Theory, Explanation, Examples, Exercises & Separate Solutions

By MMag. Karin Silvina Hiebaum

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🧾 1. Introduction: Why “do” and “does” are important

In English grammar, the auxiliary verbs “do” and “does” are fundamental. They are used to form:

• Questions
• Negatives
• Emphasis

Understanding how to use “do” and “does” correctly is essential for building correct sentences, especially in the Present Simple tense.

Many students find this topic confusing, especially when dealing with the third person singular (he, she, it). This paper will explain the rules step by step with clear examples and structured exercises.

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📊 2. The Present Simple – Basic Structure

Before learning “do” and “does”, we need to understand the Present Simple tense.

👉 It is used for:

• Daily routines
• Facts
• habits

Examples:

• I work every day.
• She lives in Vienna.
• They play football.

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👤 3. Subject Pronouns in English

Person	Pronoun
1st	I
2nd	You
3rd	He / She / It
Plural	We / You / They

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⭐ 4. The Third Person Singular (VERY IMPORTANT)

👉 The third person singular is:

• He
• She
• It

Rule:

👉 The verb changes!

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🔹 4.1 Verb + “-s”

• I work → He works
• I play → She plays

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🔹 4.2 Verb + “-es”

Used with:

• go → goes
• do → does
• watch → watches

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🔹 4.3 Special cases

• study → studies
• try → tries

👉 Rule: consonant + y → ies

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⚙️ 5. “Do” and “Does” – Basic Rule

Subject	Auxiliary
I / You / We / They	do
He / She / It	does

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❓ 6. Questions with Do / Does

👉 Structure:

Do/Does + subject + base verb

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Examples:

• Do you work?
• Do they play football?
• Does he work?
• Does she live here?

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⚠️ IMPORTANT:
👉 After “does”, the verb goes back to base form!

❌ Does he works
✔️ Does he work

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🚫 7. Negatives with Do / Does

👉 Structure:

Subject + do/does + not + verb

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Examples:

• I do not work.
• You do not understand.
• He does not work.
• She does not like coffee.

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Short forms:

• do not → don’t
• does not → doesn’t

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🔁 8. Affirmative vs Negative vs Question

Type	Example
Affirmative	She works
Negative	She does not work
Question	Does she work?

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🧠 9. Common Mistakes

❌ He don’t work
✔️ He doesn’t work

❌ Does she works?
✔️ Does she work?

❌ She do her homework
✔️ She does her homework

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🧾 10. Conjugation Overview

Verb: TO WORK

Subject	Verb
I	work
You	work
He/She/It	works
We	work
They	work

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🎯 11. Use of “Do” as a Main Verb

“Do” can also be a main verb:

• I do my homework.
• She does her homework.

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✏️ 12. Exercises

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🔹 PART A – Fill in (1–20)

1. She ___ (work) every day.
2. He ___ (play) football.
3. They ___ (live) in Vienna.
4. She ___ (study) English.
5. He ___ (go) to school.
6. I ___ (like) coffee.
7. She ___ (like) tea.
8. He ___ (watch) TV.
9. They ___ (watch) movies.
10. It ___ (rain).
11. She ___ (try).
12. He ___ (fix).
13. She ___ (teach).
14. He ___ (do) homework.
15. It ___ (fly).
16. We ___ (work).
17. She ___ (work).
18. He ___ (study).
19. They ___ (study).
20. It ___ (play).

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🔹 PART B – Questions (21–40)

21. ___ you work?
22. ___ she work?
23. ___ they play?
24. ___ he live here?
25. ___ she like coffee?
26. ___ they go to school?
27. ___ he study English?
28. ___ she watch TV?
29. ___ it rain?
30. ___ you understand?

31–40: Form questions

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🔹 PART C – Negatives (41–60)

41. She works → negative
42. He plays → negative
43. They live → negative
44. She studies → negative
45. He watches TV → negative

46–60: same pattern

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🔹 PART D – Error Correction (61–80)

61. He don’t work
62. She do homework
63. Does he works?
64. She don’t like tea
65. He go to school

66–80: correct sentences

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🔹 PART E – Writing (81–100)

81. Write 5 sentences about your routine
82. Write 3 questions
83. Write 3 negatives
84. Describe a person
    85–100: free writing

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✅ SOLUTIONS (SEPARATE)

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✔️ PART A

1. works
2. plays
3. live
4. studies
5. goes
6. like
7. likes
8. watches
9. watch
10. rains
11. tries
12. fixes
13. teaches
14. does
15. flies
16. work
17. works
18. studies
19. study
20. plays

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✔️ PART B

21. Do
22. Does
23. Do
24. Does
25. Does

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✔️ PART C

41. She does not work
42. He does not play
43. They do not live
44. She does not study
45. He does not watch TV

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✔️ PART D

61. He doesn’t work
62. She does homework
63. Does he work?
64. She doesn’t like tea
65. He goes to school

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✔️ PART E

👉 individuelle Antworten (correct structure required)

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🎯 Conclusion

Understanding “do” and “does” is essential for mastering English grammar. Once students understand:

• third person rules
• question structure
• negatives

they gain confidence in speaking and writing.

📘 Modal Verbs in English – Complete Explanation

(can, could, must, have to, should, may, might, will, would)

By MMag. Karin Silvina Hiebaum

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🧾 1. What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special auxiliary verbs.
They help us express:

• ability
• permission
• obligation
• advice
• possibility
• requests

👉 They are always followed by a base verb (infinitive without “to”)

✔️ Example:

• She can swim.
• He must study.

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⚙️ 2. Important Rules of Modal Verbs

🔹 Rule 1: No “-s” in third person

❌ He cans swim
✔️ He can swim

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🔹 Rule 2: No “to” after modal verbs

❌ She can to go
✔️ She can go

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🔹 Rule 3: No “do/does” needed

❌ Do you can swim?
✔️ Can you swim?

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🔹 Rule 4: Same form for all persons

I can / you can / he can / they can

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📊 3. Overview of Modal Verbs

Modal Verb	Meaning
can	ability / permission
could	past ability / polite
must	strong obligation
have to	external obligation
should	advice
may	permission (formal)
might	possibility
will	future
would	polite / conditional

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💪 4. CAN

👉 Meaning:

• ability
• permission

Examples:

• I can swim.
• She can speak English.
• Can I go out?

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⏳ 5. COULD

👉 Meaning:

• past ability
• polite request

Examples:

• I could swim when I was 5.
• Could you help me?

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⚠️ 6. MUST

👉 Meaning:

• strong obligation
• necessity

Examples:

• You must do your homework.
• He must study.

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🔄 7. HAVE TO

👉 Meaning:

• obligation (external rules)

Examples:

• I have to go to school.
• She has to work.

👉 Difference:

• must = personal obligation
• have to = external rule

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💡 8. SHOULD

👉 Meaning:

• advice
• recommendation

Examples:

• You should sleep more.
• He should study.

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🌟 9. MAY / MIGHT

👉 Meaning:

• possibility

Examples:

• It may rain.
• She might come later.

👉 may = stronger possibility
👉 might = weaker possibility

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🔮 10. WILL

👉 Meaning:

• future
• decisions

Examples:

• I will go tomorrow.
• She will call you.

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🤝 11. WOULD

👉 Meaning:

• polite requests
• hypothetical situations

Examples:

• Would you help me?
• I would go if I had time.

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🔄 12. Negative Forms

Modal	Negative
can	cannot / can’t
must	must not (mustn’t)
should	should not
will	will not (won’t)

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Examples:

• I can’t swim.
• You mustn’t smoke.
• She shouldn’t go.

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❓ 13. Questions with Modal Verbs

👉 Structure:

Modal + subject + verb

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Examples:

• Can you help me?
• Should I go?
• Will she come?

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⚠️ 14. Common Mistakes

❌ He can swims
✔️ He can swim

❌ She must to go
✔️ She must go

❌ Do you can help?
✔️ Can you help?

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🧠 15. Comparison Examples

Ability:

• I can swim (now)
• I could swim (past)

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Obligation:

• I must study (personal)
• I have to study (rule)

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Advice:

• You should sleep more

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Possibility:

• It may rain
• It might rain

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✏️ 16. Mini Exercises

Fill in:

1. She ___ swim. (can)
2. You ___ study more. (should)
3. I ___ go tomorrow. (will)
4. ___ you help me? (can)
5. He ___ work. (must)

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✅ Solutions

1. can
2. should
3. will
4. Can
5. must

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🎯 17. Summary (Very Important for Students)

✔ Modal verbs are always followed by base form
✔ No “-s” in third person
✔ No “to” after modal verbs
✔ No “do/does”

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💬 18. Final Conclusion

Modal verbs are essential for communication in English. They allow students to express not only actions, but also attitudes such as obligation, possibility, and advice.

👉 Mastering modal verbs helps students:

• speak more naturally
• understand real conversations
• build correct sentences