Questioning people

[Kaito-Hacker]

When do we use 'do' to ask question?
When do we use 'are' to ask question?
I still can't figure out the differences between them.
Thank you for helping.

[Deleted]

Hmmm... They're very similar words, but "Do" refers to the action.

Examples of "Do":
"What do you like to eat?"
"Where do you go after school?"
"How do you get to the mall?"

Examples of "are":
"Where are you going?"
"What are you going to do after school?"
"What are your favorite foods to eat?"

Did that help? I'm sure an english major could explain this better.

[Kaito-Hacker]

if "do" refers to the action, what is "are" refer to?

[Kaito]

"Are" is the Present Continuous form of the verb "to be", and present continuous is used
1. for an action that is happening in the moment of talking
like Magic-chan suggested:
"Where are you going?"
2. future tense with planned dates, times, etc.
"What are you going to do after school?"

So basically you use are "are" as a secondary verb for Present Continuous, and the main verb is in -ing form

"do" is secondary verb for Present Simple, which is used when we have:
1. Absolute truth (The Moon goes around the Earth)
2. Actions that happen regularly (I go to school every day.)
3. General information, rules and schedules (Do not feed the animals in this Zoo; The train leaves at 11pm)

When we use "do" the main verb is in infinitive:
Do you play football?


The usage of "are" and "do" depend on the tense we are using. See, there's difference between
Where do you go after school? (Pr.Simple) --> where do you go usually, it's an action that happens repeatedly and regularly.
Where are you going after school? (Pr. Continuous) --> means where are you going TODAY after school, it's an exception from the usual routine.


Did it become clearer? ^^;;;

[Kaito-Hacker]

Yeah, it become clear now!!!!!!!!
Thank yout to magicbulletgirl and Kaito.