Do you want to level up your grammar? Learn how to speak English fluently like a native speaker, with 34 present simple questions! Use these 34 present tense examples as models to then make your own super sentences!
Today you will learn and practice:
- Simple present tense rules
- 34 simple present questions
- Question types
- Present simple quiz
Related: 100 Sentences Of Simple Present Tense: Boost Your English!
How do you form a present question? Simple present tense rules
Before we jump into our present simple questions, let’s make sure we are comfortable with the simple present tense rules, and know how to actually form a present question. There are actually a few ways to do it:
Wh questions
- Begin with the appropriate “wh” question word (what, where, when, why, how, etc.).
- Follow the question word with the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” before the subject.
- Add the subject of the sentence after the auxiliary verb.
- Use the main verb in its base form (infinitive form) after the subject.
- End the question with a question mark.
Example: What do you do?
Auxiliary verbs + Questions
- Begin with the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” (depending on the subject).
- Follow the auxiliary verb with the subject of the sentence.
- Use the main verb in its base form (infinitive form) after the subject.
- End the question with a question mark
Example: Do you like ice cream?
Related: 35 Present Indefinite Tense Negative Sentences: Better English Today!
To be questions
- Begin with the appropriate form of the verb “to be” (am, is, are).
- Invert the subject and the verb “to be.”
- End the question with a question mark.
Example: Are you ready?
Present simple questions: Closed-ended questions
Now we are feeling more familiar with the simple present tense rules, we can start making questions! Closed-ended questions are common in the simple present – they are easy to form and usually go with a yes / no answer. Here are 5 present simple questions using this structure:
- Do you like chocolate?
- Does she live in the city?
- Is it raining outside?
- Do they play basketball?
- Do you speak French?
Simple present tense questions: Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions need a little more detail in their answers. This can be useful if we want to have a nicely flowing conversation. They are typically formed with the “Wh’ words (which, where, when, what, how, etc.). Here are 5 present simple questions that definitely help keep conversations going.
- What hobbies do you enjoy?
- Where do you usually go on vacation?
- How do you spend your weekends?
- Why do you like that particular book?
- What kind of music do you listen to?
Present simple questions: Wh questions
Here are some wh question examples with answers. These type of sentences are commonly used when making simple present tense questions.
| Wh questions | Example sentences/answers |
| Who is your favorite English teacher? | My favorite English teacher is Mr. Smith! |
| Where does Sarah work? | Sarah works at the bakery in town. |
| When do you usually go to the gym, David? | I usually go to the gym in the morning, before work. |
| How often do you visit your grandparents, Emily? | I try to visit my grandparents once a month if I can! |
| Why do you enjoy cooking, Alex? | I enjoy cooking because I can be creative and experiment with flavors. |
Present simple questions / Yes or no questions
Here are 5 questions and short answers that specifically use the present simple. They are basically yes or no questions!
- Do you like pizza? (Yes, I love pizza. / No, I don’t like pizza.)
- Does she speak Spanish? (Yes, she speaks Spanish fluently. / No, she doesn’t speak Spanish.)
- Are they siblings? (Yes, they are brother and sister. / No, they are not siblings.)
- Do you play the guitar? (Yes, I play the guitar regularly. / No, I don’t play the guitar.)
- Does he work on weekends? (Yes, he works on weekends sometimes. / No, he doesn’t work on weekends.)
Present simple quiz
So far we have looked at a variety of simple present tense questions, from closed-ended questions to open-ended ones, and also made auxiliary verb questions, and “to be” questions. Let’s review all of this with a present simple quiz! Be careful as not every answer will be in the present simple form! Answers can be found at the bottom.
- _____ they usually go to the park on Sundays?
- A) Do
- B) Does
- C) Did
- D) Are
2. She _____ tennis every weekend.
- A) play
- B) plays
- C) played
- D) playing
3. _____ you speak any foreign languages?
- A) Do
- B) Does
- C) Did
- D) Are
4. The train _____ at 9:00 AM every morning.
- A) leave
- B) leaves
- C) left
- D) leaving
5. We _____ a new car last week.
- A) buy
- B) buys
- C) bought
- D) buying
Answers:
- A) Do
- B) plays
- A) Do
- B) leaves
- C) bought
Present simple questions FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about simple present tense questions and the simple present tense in general.
Can you ask a question in present tense?
Yes, you absolutely can make present simple questions! Here’s a question in the present tense:
Do you enjoy reading books?
How do you use present simple questions?
- Start with a question word (who, what, where, which, when, why, how).
- Use “do” or “does” before the subject.
- Add the subject.
- Use the base form of the main verb. (such as like, prefer, want)
- End with a question mark.
Example: What do you do?
What are 4 examples of present tense?
- I eat breakfast every morning.
- She works at a hospital.
- They play soccer on the weekends.
- The sun rises in the east.
In these examples, the verbs are in the present tense. That means the actions or states that are happening now or are generally true. Think about the sun – it rises and sets routinely, doesn’t it?
How do you explain present tense verbs?
Present tense verbs are used to describe actions, events, or states that are happening now or are generally true. They are used to talk about actions that happen in the present time or regularly happen as a habit. We can talk about seasons, people’s routines, nature, etc. Using present simple questions accurately is one of the basic requirements for being an English speaker, I believe!