Present simple, in its interrogative form, is used to ask about:
completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
facts (things that are generally true, stated);
habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
informal narrative (when telling a story).
permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
planned future (planned events with a given exact date);
promises;
timetables (planned events with given exact time).
We use the present simple, in its interrogative form, to ask about situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.
When we use the present simple in its interrogative form, we start with do followed by the subject and the verb in its base form (the sentence ends with a question mark). In the third person singular, we use does.
For example: — “Do you work on important projects?” = The sentence is in the present simple interrogative, so we start with do and we use the base form of the verb to work (work).
— “Does she work on important projects?” = The subject is she, so we start with does and we use the base form of the verb to work (work).
NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation
rule for the interrogative form. We put it at the beginning of the sentence to form questions.
In the interrogative form, Wh- questions always begin with one of the wh- question words (interrogative pronouns), which show what kind of information is wanted.
The wh- questions in the present tense are used to ask for information in the present.
FORM To create a wh- question, we place an auxiliary or a modal verb after the wh- question word and before a subject.
In the present tense (both simple and continuous), we use the present forms of the auxiliary and modal verbs.
The interrogative form of wh- questions in present form have this structure with an auxiliary verb:
Wh- question word + auxiliary verb (present form) + subject + verb + …?
with a modal verb:
Wh- question word + modal verb (present form) + subject + verb + …?
without an auxiliary verb:
What/who + verb (third person singular) + …?
Which/whose + noun + verb (third person singular/plural) + …? ( See table 2)
The Wh- words are :when, where, why, which, what, whose, who, whom and how.
Table 2