A1 · Beginner Chapter 6

Talking About Actions and Habits

4 Total Rules
46 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of asking questions and saying no to navigate daily life with confidence.

  • Form negative sentences using don't and doesn't.
  • Construct questions with do and does.
  • Describe current actions using continuous questions and negatives.
Unlock the power of conversation.

What You'll Learn

Ready to chat more about your daily life? This chapter will help you easily say 'no' to things you don't do, and confidently ask questions like 'Do you work?' Soon, you'll be having simple conversations about what's happening right now!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'don't' and 'doesn't' to accurately express daily habits.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Formulate questions using 'do' and 'does' to interview a peer.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Discuss current activities in the negative and interrogative forms.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Mastering English talking about actions and habits is a cornerstone of A1 English grammar, and this chapter is your friendly guide! Imagine being able to share what you do every day, or what you *don't* do, without hesitation. That's exactly what we'll achieve here. You'll learn simple yet powerful ways to say "no" to actions and habits, like "I don't like coffee," and to ask straightforward questions such as "What do you do?" or "Is he working right now?" This ability to describe ongoing actions and regular routines will unlock countless simple conversations, helping you connect with others and talk about your daily life. Get ready to build essential communication skills that make your English sound natural and confident!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of talking about actions and habits in English are a few key helper words that make questions and negatives easy. When you want to say you don't do something regularly, or someone else doesn't do something, you use do or does plus not (contracted to don't or doesn't), followed by the base form of the verb. For example, "I don't speak French," or "She doesn't live here." For questions about habits, do or does comes first: "Do you work?" or "Does he like pizza?"
When you use the verb have, which is super common, it follows the same pattern for questions and negatives. You always need do or does as the helper verb. So, it's "Do you have a car?" not "Have you a car?" and "I don't have a pet," not "I haven't a pet."
Finally, for actions happening at this very moment – what you are doing "right now" – we use the Present Continuous. This involves a form of the verb be (am, is, are) and the -ing form of the main verb. To make it negative, you add not after be: "I am not working" or "He isn't reading." To ask a question, you simply move the be verb to the front: "Are you listening?" or "Is she eating?" These structures work together to help you describe your world accurately, whether it's an everyday routine or something happening as we speak.

Common Mistakes

Learning new grammar can sometimes lead to small mix-ups, but that's part of the journey! Here are some common errors and how to fix them:
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "He no like coffee." / "You have a car?"
✓ Correct: "He doesn't like coffee." / "Do you have a car?"
*Explanation:* Always use don't or doesn't for negatives, and do or does for questions about habits and with the verb have.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "I am not work now." / "Are you study?"
✓ Correct: "I am not working now." / "Are you studying?"
*Explanation:* For actions happening "right now" (Present Continuous), you need both the be verb and the -ing form of the main verb.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "She don't live here."
✓ Correct: "She doesn't live here."
*Explanation:* Remember the 's' for third-person singular (he, she, it) with does and doesn't.

Real Conversations

Let's see these grammar points in action!

A

A

Hi Sarah! Do you work on Saturdays?
B

B

No, I don't work on Saturdays. I relax! Do you have any plans today?
A

A

Hey, what are you doing?
B

B

I am watching a movie. Are you busy?
A

A

No, I am not working right now. I don't have any meetings.
A

A

Does he live near here?
B

B

No, he doesn't live near here. He lives far away.
A

A

Oh. Does he have a car?
B

B

Yes, he does. He drives to work every day.

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use don't versus doesn't?

You use don't for I, you, we, they (e.g., "I don't like that"). You use doesn't for he, she, it (e.g., "He doesn't like that"). It depends on who is doing the action.

Q

Can I use do for questions about actions happening 'right now'?

No, for actions happening 'right now', you use a form of be and the -ing verb. For example, "Are you reading?" not "Do you read?" (unless you mean 'Do you read generally?').

Q

Why do we say "Do you have" instead of "Have you" for questions about possession?

In modern English, especially American English, do/does is almost always used as the helper verb for questions and negatives with have when it means possession. While "Have you a car?" might be understood, "Do you have a car?" is much more common and natural.

Q

What's the main difference between "I don't work" and "I am not working"?

"I don't work" talks about a habit or general fact (e.g., "I don't have a job"). "I am not working" talks about an action that is not happening at this specific moment (e.g., "I am not working *right now*").

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these patterns constantly in daily conversation. You'll often hear contractions like don't and doesn't because they make speech flow more smoothly. While some older or more formal varieties of British English might still use "Have you...?" for possession, using do/does with have for questions and negatives is overwhelmingly common and natural in contemporary English everywhere. Don't be afraid to use these helper verbs – they sound very natural!

Key Examples (8)

1

I don't eat meat.

Saying 'No' in English: Don't & Doesn't
2

You don't need to hurry.

Saying 'No' in English: Don't & Doesn't
3

Do you live in a big city?

Asking Questions: Do and Does (Present Simple Questions)
4

Does she like to cook dinner?

Asking Questions: Do and Does (Present Simple Questions)
5

I don't have a car for the trip.

Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)
6

Do you have a pen I can borrow?

Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)
7

I'm not listening to music right now.

Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)
8

Are you working on your project this evening?

Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'S' Rule

If the subject is one person (He, She, It), use 'doesn't'. If it's more than one or 'I/You', use 'don't'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saying 'No' in English: Don't & Doesn't
💡

The 'S' Rule

Think of 'Does' as a magnet. It pulls the 's' away from the main verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Questions: Do and Does (Present Simple Questions)
💡

The 'S' Rule

Remember: The 's' in 'has' moves to 'does'. Once it moves, it's gone from the main verb!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)
💡

The 'Be' Rule

Always check for 'am, is, or are'. If you don't have one, it's not a Present Continuous sentence!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)

Key Vocabulary (6)

work to perform tasks have to possess study to learn drink to consume liquid now at this moment breakfast morning meal

Real-World Preview

coffee

At the Office

Review Summary

  • Subject + don't/doesn't + verb
  • Do/Does + subject + verb?
  • Do/Does + subject + have?
  • Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

Common Mistakes

When using 'does', the main verb loses the 's'. The auxiliary takes all the work.

Wrong: Does he works here?
Correct: Does he work here?

To ask a question, start with 'Do'. Don't just add a question mark to a statement.

Wrong: I don't have a car? (as a question)
Correct: Do you have a car?

Present continuous requires the -ing ending. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.

Wrong: Are you work?
Correct: Are you working?

Next Steps

You are building a fantastic foundation. Keep practicing, and don't stop asking questions!

Watch a short English interview and note the questions used.

Continue to: Asking Questions and Saying No

Quick Practice (10)

Find the mistake in this sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Is they playing football in the park?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is
'They' requires the verb 'Are', not 'Is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She doesn't have a car.
We use 'doesn't' for she, and the verb must be 'have'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

My sister ___ like chocolate.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: doesn't
'Sister' is 'she', so we use 'doesn't'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saying 'No' in English: Don't & Doesn't

Find the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Does he has a brother?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has
It should be 'have' because 'does' is already used.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)

Fill in the blank with 'do' or 'does'.

___ you have a map?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Do
'You' requires the helper verb 'do'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb 'have': Questions and negatives (do/does)

Choose the correct negative sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am not eating.
The negative form is Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)

Fill in the missing word to make a question.

___ you listening to the teacher?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Are
We use 'Are' with the subject 'you'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous: Negatives & Questions (Am I working?)

Fill in the blank with 'Do' or 'Does'.

___ she like chocolate?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Does
We use 'Does' for the third-person singular (she).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Questions: Do and Does (Present Simple Questions)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Do you has a car?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Do you have a car?
The base form of the verb 'has' is 'have'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Questions: Do and Does (Present Simple Questions)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

He doesn't plays tennis on Sundays.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: plays
After 'doesn't', the verb should be 'play' (no 's').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saying 'No' in English: Don't & Doesn't

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No. In English, you must use don't or doesn't before the verb. 'I no like' is a common mistake for beginners.
Use do not in very formal writing (like a legal contract) or when you want to be very emphatic. In normal conversation, always use don't.
In very casual speech, yes (e.g., 'You like it?'), but in writing and formal speaking, you must use do or does.
Because does already shows the third-person 's'. The main verb must always return to its base form, which is have.
It is grammatically possible but very old-fashioned. In modern English, you should say I don't have a car or I haven't got a car.
In English, when we use a helper verb like does, the main verb must return to its base form (the dictionary form). The base form of 'has' is have.
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Describing Your World and Actions
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Asking Questions and Saying No
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