Helping explain why the auxiliary verb takes the s and not the main verb

Question

In the question 'What does she like to eat?' the auxiliary verb takes the third person s but the main verb doesn't. How would I explain this rule/pattern to a student? Or, is this all I have to say?

Thanks kindly,

David

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

DC FosterWhat does she like to eat?
How would I explain this rule/pattern to a student?

There are several rules involved, so you have to start with the simplest declarative statement, and go one step at a time.

Declarative sentences:

1. She likes mangos. => The subject is third person singular (she). The inflected verb (like) matches. The direct object is "mangos."

2. She likes to eat mangos. => The complement of the verb is an infinitive clause. Mangos is the object of this non-finite verb (to eat). The -ing form is also used after like: She likes eating mangos.

3. She does like mangos. => The emphatic form of the first sentence. The auxiliary verb (do) is third person singular. The lexical verb is the base form. This is a similar pattern for auxiliary verbs. However, many of them, the modal verbs, are not inflected. as in She may like mangos. / She should like mangos. / She will like mangos.

Interrogatives:

The modal verbs are required to make the interrogative form of the sentence. We do not invert the main verb and subject. e.g. This is incorrect.

X Likes she mangos?

Sentence #3 above can be used for the question form:

Does she like mangos?

Sentence #2 can be used also:

Does she like to eat mangos?

The interrogative pronouns are used in place of the direct object.

e.g.

What does she like? Answer: Mangos.
What does she like to eat? Answer: Mangos.

Thus, you go from the known, a simple declarative sentence, to a more complicated grammatical construction, the interrogative.

Helping explain why the auxiliary verb takes the s and not the main verb

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