To ask what someone does, start with the question word, then do or does, then the person, then the plain action word. Use does for he, she, it; use do for I, you, we, they. The question word can be where (a place), what (a thing), or when (a time).
Asking about what people do
Amina lives in Haffenville. → Where does Amina live?
They work near the library. → Where do they work?
Mei likes apples. → What does Mei like?
Mei cooks in the evening. → When does Mei cook?
Not "Where does Amina lives? ("lives" after does)" — say "Where does Amina live? (with does, the action word is plain)". After does, use the plain word: live, not "lives".
be or action word?
Look at the sentence first. If it already has is / are / am, move that be-word to the front: She is happy. → Is she happy? If it has an action word like work, live, read, use do or does: She works. → Does she work?
She is happy. → Is she happy? (has is)
She works. → Does she work? (has an action word)
They are ready. → Are they ready? (has are)
They live here. → Do they live here? (has an action word)
Not "Is she work? (there is no be-word in "She works")" — say "Does she work? (an action word needs does)". No is / are / am in the sentence? Then use do or does, not a be-word.
Try it: Make "Lars works." a question. Which one is correct? (Does Lars work? / Is Lars work? / Do Lars work?) Answer: Does Lars work? — "Lars works" has an action word and no is / are / am, so use does: Does Lars work? "Is Lars work?" reaches for a be-word that isn't in the sentence, and "Do Lars work?" needs does for one person.
Try it: Make "Mei is happy." a question. Which one is correct? (Is Mei happy? / Does Mei happy? / Does Mei be happy?) Answer: Is Mei happy? — "Mei is happy" already has the be-word is, so move it to the front: Is Mei happy? There is no action word here, so does does not belong.
Try it: Amina works near the park. Ask where Amina works. Answer: Where does Amina work? — Start with Where, then does, then the plain word work: Where does Amina work? With does in front, the action word stays plain.
Try it: They live near the supermarket. Ask where they live. Answer: Where do they live? — With they, use do (not does): Where do they live? Save does for he, she, it. The action word stays plain after both.
Try it: Mei reads at eight o'clock. Ask when Mei reads. Answer: When does Mei read? — Start with When, then does, then the plain word read: When does Mei read? With does in front, the action word stays plain.
Asking how
To ask about the way someone does something, start with How, then do or does, then the person, then the plain word.
You go to work by bus. → How do you go to work?
She travels to the office by train. → How does she travel to the office?
Try it: Farid: Hiroshi, ___ you get to school every day? Hiroshi: I walk. (How do / What time do / How often do) Answer: How do — Hiroshi answers with a way of traveling, on foot, so the question word is How: How do you get to school? What time do asks about a clock time, and How often do asks about a number of times. Neither one matches 'I walk.'
Asking which
Which asks someone to choose from a small, known group. Use it when there is a real choice in front of you.
You work mornings or afternoons. → Which shift do you work?
The office uses English and Spanish. → Which language do you use at work?
Try it: Interviewer: We have a morning van and an afternoon van. ___ (Which van do you want? / Where do you park the van? / What time do you drive the van?) Answer: Which van do you want? — Two named vans, morning and afternoon, are on offer, and Which van do you want? asks the candidate to choose one of them. Where do you park the van? asks about a place, and What time do you drive the van? asks about a clock time. Neither one is about choosing between two vans.
Asking what time
To ask about a time on the clock, use What time.
You start work at nine. → What time do you start work?
The shop opens at ten. → What time does the shop open?
Try it: Interviewer: ___ do you finish work? Lars: At eight o'clock. (What time / How often / Which) Answer: What time — The answer is a clock time, eight o'clock, so the question is What time: What time do you finish work? How often asks about a number of times, not a clock time, and Which comes before a noun, like Which shift, and needs a group to choose from — here there is neither.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
Where does Amina lives? ("lives" after does)
Where does Amina live? (with does, the action word is plain)
After does, use the plain word: live, not "lives".
Is she work? (there is no be-word in "She works")
Does she work? (an action word needs does)
No is / are / am in the sentence? Then use do or does, not a be-word.