Unit 9 · Where does she work?
Where does she work? She works in a school. Use does + subject + base verb to ask about one person's workplace, and add s to work in the positive answer. In English 1AC Unit 9, Where does she work?, connect jobs to places, read an original interview and write a short description with commas and and.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- Name common jobs and workplaces
- Ask Where does he or she work?
- Use works, doesn't work and does…work correctly
- Choose a or an by the following sound
- Read an interview to find a person's job, place and tasks
- Recognise long a in simple a + consonant + silent e words
- Use commas and and in a list
- Write about a real or fictional person's work
Before you startPresent simple questions with do and does · He, she and singular names · Basic place words and a/an
Un bon cours, ça se partage.
What are common jobs and workplaces in English?
A job tells you what someone does. A workplace tells you where they do it. Teacher is a job; school is a workplace. One job may have more than one workplace, so treat the pairs below as useful examples rather than rules about every worker.
| Job | A possible workplace | Example |
|---|---|---|
| teacher | school | A teacher works in a school. |
| doctor | hospital or clinic | A doctor works in a hospital. |
| farmer | farm | A farmer works on a farm. |
| cook | restaurant | A cook works in a restaurant. |
| shop assistant | shop | A shop assistant works in a shop. |
| mechanic | garage | A mechanic works in a garage. |
| nurse | hospital or clinic | A nurse works in a clinic. |
| office worker | office | An office worker works in an office. |
Use a person word after is a/an: My aunt is a mechanic. Use the place word after works in: She works in a garage. Jobs are open to people of different genders. The pronoun follows the person in your example, not a stereotype about the job.
How do you ask Where does she work?
Definition
Workplace question : For one person, use Where + does + he/she/name + work? Answer with He/She + works + a place phrase: Where does Salma work? She works in a school.
| Sentence type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | She + works + place | She works in a school. |
| Negative | She + doesn't + work + place | She doesn't work in a shop. |
| Yes/no question | Does + she + work + place? | Does she work in a school? |
| Where question | Where + does + she + work? | Where does she work? |
Does carries the third-person form in the question, so the next verb is work. In the positive answer there is no does, so work becomes works. Keep these two lines together while you practise: Where does she work? She works in a school.
Remember
Do not write Where does she works? or She doesn't works. After does and doesn't, use the base verb work. A positive statement uses works: My uncle works in a shop.
What changes when the subject is plural?
| One person | Several people |
|---|---|
| My sister works in a clinic. | My sisters work in a clinic. |
| Where does she work? | Where do they work? |
| She doesn't work here. | They don't work here. |
| Does she work here? Yes, she does. | Do they work here? Yes, they do. |
Look at the subject, not the nearest noun. In My parents work in a school, parents is plural and takes work. In My father works with two teachers, father is singular and takes works even though teachers is plural.
What is the difference between What does she do? and Where does she work?
| Question | Information requested | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What does she do? | Her job in a work conversation | She is a teacher. |
| Where does she work? | Her workplace | She works in a school. |
| What does she do at work? | Her work tasks | She helps pupils read. |
In a conversation about work, What does she do? usually asks for a job. Outside that context, the question may ask about an activity. Read the surrounding sentences. A clear short answer names the requested fact instead of giving unrelated information.
When should you use in, on, a or an?
| Useful phrase | Reason |
|---|---|
| in a school / in a hospital | Use in for these workplace examples |
| in an office | Office begins with a vowel sound |
| on a farm | On a farm is the usual expression |
| a teacher / a doctor | A comes before these consonant sounds |
| an office worker | An comes before the vowel sound in office |
Choose a or an from the next sound, not just the first letter. A school and an office are useful beginner models. Work at a school is also natural when naming the institution; works in a school is the target pattern in this lesson. Do not mark a clear, grammatical alternative wrong simply because it uses at.
Reading: an interview for the school magazine
SCHOOL MAGAZINE: PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN. Reporter: What is your name? / Worker: My name is Nadia. / Reporter: What do you do? / Nadia: I'm a mechanic. / Reporter: Where do you work? / Nadia: I work in a garage near the bus station. / Reporter: What do you do there? / Nadia: I check cars, repair bikes and talk to customers. / Reporter: Do you work on Sunday? / Nadia: No, I don't. On Sunday, I visit my family.
Step by step
Read an interview for three different facts
- Identify who asks the questions and who answers.
- Find the job after I'm a.
- Find the workplace after I work.
- Find the task verbs: check, repair and talk.
- Read the Sunday answer carefully; the negative applies to work, not to visiting family.
Nadia is a mechanic. She works in a garage near the bus station. She checks cars, repairs bikes and talks to customers. She doesn't work on Sunday. When retelling her first-person answers, change I to she and adjust the positive verbs.
Phonics: how does silent e change short a?
| Short a word | Add final e | Long a word | Meaning of the new word |
|---|---|---|---|
| cap | cap + e | cape | A loose piece of clothing worn over the shoulders |
| tap | tap + e | tape | A strip used for sticking things |
| mad | mad + e | made | The past form of make |
In these short word pairs, a has the short sound /æ/ on the left and the long sound /eɪ/ on the right. The final e is not pronounced as another syllable. Name, cake, gate and plane also practise long a. This is a useful pattern, not a rule for every English word containing a and e. Made appears here as a sound example; you do not need to study the past tense in this unit.
Ask a partner to say cap or cape while you point to the written word. Then swap roles with tap and tape. Hearing the vowel difference matters more than reading the letters quickly.
How do you use commas and and in a list?
Definition
A simple written list : In a sentence listing three items, separate the early items with commas and put and before the last one: She checks cars, repairs bikes and talks to customers.
A comma before the final and is also acceptable: cars, bikes, and buses. Choose a consistent style. Do not put a comma between the subject and verb: Nadia works in a garage, not Nadia, works in a garage. For a list of two items, and is enough: cars and bikes.
Describe a workplace
My uncle is a cook. He works in a restaurant. He prepares soup, salads and sandwiches. He doesn't work in a hospital.
- The first sentence gives a job; the second gives a workplace.
- The third sentence uses a comma and and for a list of three foods.
- The negative uses doesn't + work, without s.
Writing: where does someone in your family work?
Step by step
Write a respectful short work profile
- Choose a real relative or a fictional adult; private family details are optional.
- Give a name or relationship and a job.
- State a workplace with works in or works on a farm.
- Describe two or three simple tasks.
- Include one negative and check does/works/work.
- Use commas and and correctly in one list.
Speaking practice: give a partner three clues about an invented worker: a workplace, two tasks and a day off. The partner asks What does she do? and Where does she work? Check that every answer agrees with the same profile.
Frequently asked questions
How do I answer Where does she work?
Why is it Where does she work and not Where does she works?
What is the difference between a job and a workplace?
What does silent e do in cap and cape?
How do I write about where my family works?
Quiz: 20 questions
20 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 24-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.
Q1Which word names a job?
Incorrect answer
Mechanic names a worker's role; garage and school are places.
Correct answer: mechanic
Mechanic names a worker's role; garage and school are places.
Q2Which word names a workplace?
Incorrect answer
Hospital names a place where people can work.
Correct answer: hospital
Hospital names a place where people can work.
Q3Complete: She … in a restaurant.
Incorrect answer
A positive statement with she takes works.
Correct answer: works
A positive statement with she takes works.
Q4Choose the correct question.
Incorrect answer
Use does with she and keep work in its base form.
Correct answer: Where does she work?
Use does with she and keep work in its base form.
Q5Complete: He doesn't … in a shop.
Incorrect answer
The verb after doesn't is the base form work.
Correct answer: work
The verb after doesn't is the base form work.
Q6Choose the usual phrase.
Incorrect answer
On a farm is the common expression, and farm takes a.
Correct answer: on a farm
On a farm is the common expression, and farm takes a.
Q7Complete: She works in … office.
Incorrect answer
Office begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Correct answer: an
Office begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Q8Complete: My parents … in a school.
Incorrect answer
Parents is a plural subject and takes work.
Correct answer: work
Parents is a plural subject and takes work.
Q9Where … they work?
Incorrect answer
Use do with the plural subject they.
Correct answer: do
Use do with the plural subject they.
Q10In a work conversation, What does she do? asks for…
Incorrect answer
In this context, the question asks which job she has.
Correct answer: her job.
In this context, the question asks which job she has.
Q11Where does Nadia work in the reading?
Incorrect answer
Nadia tells the reporter that she works in a garage.
Correct answer: In a garage
Nadia tells the reporter that she works in a garage.
Q12Which task does Nadia mention?
Incorrect answer
The interview says she repairs bikes as part of her work.
Correct answer: Repairing bikes
The interview says she repairs bikes as part of her work.
Q13Does Nadia work on Sunday?
Incorrect answer
Her Sunday answer is No, I don't, retold as No, she doesn't.
Correct answer: No, she doesn't.
Her Sunday answer is No, I don't, retold as No, she doesn't.
Q14Change I work to a statement about Nadia.
Incorrect answer
Replace I with she and add s to work in a positive statement.
Correct answer: She works.
Replace I with she and add s to work in a positive statement.
Q15Which word has long a in this silent-e pattern?
Incorrect answer
Cape has long a /eɪ/ and a silent final e.
Correct answer: cape
Cape has long a /eɪ/ and a silent final e.
Q16Add silent e to tap.
Incorrect answer
Tap + final e gives tape, with a changed vowel sound.
Correct answer: tape
Tap + final e gives tape, with a changed vowel sound.
Q17In cape, the final e…
Incorrect answer
The final e is not pronounced as an extra syllable in cape.
Correct answer: is silent.
The final e is not pronounced as an extra syllable in cape.
Q18Choose a correctly punctuated list.
Incorrect answer
A comma separates the early items and and introduces the last.
Correct answer: Soup, salads and sandwiches.
A comma separates the early items and and introduces the last.
Q19Which sentence has a plural subject?
Incorrect answer
My sisters refers to several people and takes work.
Correct answer: My sisters work here.
My sisters refers to several people and takes work.
Q20Complete: She is … teacher.
Incorrect answer
A job name with a singular count noun needs an article: a teacher.
Correct answer: a
A job name with a singular count noun needs an article: a teacher.
Q21Which question asks about tasks?
Incorrect answer
Adding at work makes the request about work activities.
Correct answer: What does she do at work?
Adding at work makes the request about work activities.
Q22Does he work in a school? Yes, …
Incorrect answer
Repeat does in a positive short answer to a does question.
Correct answer: he does.
Repeat does in a positive short answer to a does question.
Q23Which is also natural English?
Incorrect answer
At can identify the institution; works at a school is grammatical.
Correct answer: She works at a school.
At can identify the institution; works at a school is grammatical.
Q24What is NOT specified in Nadia's interview?
Incorrect answer
The interview identifies the job and Sunday off, but no exact working hours.
Correct answer: Her exact working hours
The interview identifies the job and Sunday off, but no exact working hours.
Your score
0/20
Start with the worked examples
Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.
Review: 20 missed questions
Which word names a job?
Correct answermechanic
Mechanic names a worker's role; garage and school are places.
Which word names a workplace?
Correct answerhospital
Hospital names a place where people can work.
Complete: She … in a restaurant.
Correct answerworks
A positive statement with she takes works.
Choose the correct question.
Correct answerWhere does she work?
Use does with she and keep work in its base form.
Complete: He doesn't … in a shop.
Correct answerwork
The verb after doesn't is the base form work.
Choose the usual phrase.
Correct answeron a farm
On a farm is the common expression, and farm takes a.
Complete: She works in … office.
Correct answeran
Office begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Complete: My parents … in a school.
Correct answerwork
Parents is a plural subject and takes work.
Where … they work?
Correct answerdo
Use do with the plural subject they.
In a work conversation, What does she do? asks for…
Correct answerher job.
In this context, the question asks which job she has.
Where does Nadia work in the reading?
Correct answerIn a garage
Nadia tells the reporter that she works in a garage.
Which task does Nadia mention?
Correct answerRepairing bikes
The interview says she repairs bikes as part of her work.
Does Nadia work on Sunday?
Correct answerNo, she doesn't.
Her Sunday answer is No, I don't, retold as No, she doesn't.
Change I work to a statement about Nadia.
Correct answerShe works.
Replace I with she and add s to work in a positive statement.
Which word has long a in this silent-e pattern?
Correct answercape
Cape has long a /eɪ/ and a silent final e.
Add silent e to tap.
Correct answertape
Tap + final e gives tape, with a changed vowel sound.
In cape, the final e…
Correct answeris silent.
The final e is not pronounced as an extra syllable in cape.
Choose a correctly punctuated list.
Correct answerSoup, salads and sandwiches.
A comma separates the early items and and introduces the last.
Which sentence has a plural subject?
Correct answerMy sisters work here.
My sisters refers to several people and takes work.
Complete: She is … teacher.
Correct answera
A job name with a singular count noun needs an article: a teacher.
Exercises with answers
14 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Exercise 1
EasySort teacher, garage, doctor, school, mechanic and hospital into jobs and workplaces.
Answer and explanation
Jobs: teacher, doctor, mechanic. Workplaces: garage, school, hospital. A job describes a role; a workplace describes the location where someone may carry it out.
Exercise 2
EasyMatch farmer, cook, shop assistant and teacher with restaurant, school, farm and shop.
Answer and explanation
A farmer works on a farm. A cook works in a restaurant. A shop assistant works in a shop. A teacher works in a school. These are common examples; other real workplaces may also be possible.
Exercise 3
EasyComplete: She … in a clinic. My parents … in a school. Adam … in a garage. They … in a shop.
Answer and explanation
She works in a clinic. My parents work in a school. Adam works in a garage. They work in a shop. One person takes works in a positive statement; plural subjects take work.
Exercise 4
EasyWrite a Where question for She works in a school and for They work in a hospital.
Answer and explanation
Where does she work? Where do they work? Use does with she and do with they. The place becomes the information requested, so it is not repeated in these questions.
Exercise 5
IntermediateChange these to negatives: Nadia works on Sunday. Her friends work in an office.
Answer and explanation
Nadia doesn't work on Sunday. Her friends don't work in an office. Both negatives use the base form work, but the helper changes with the subject.
Exercise 6
EasyComplete: … teacher; … office; … hospital; … office worker.
Answer and explanation
A teacher; an office; a hospital; an office worker. Choose the article from the following sound: office starts with a vowel sound, while teacher and hospital begin with consonant sounds.
Exercise 7
IntermediateCorrect: Where does he works? He work in an farm. She doesn't works in a school.
Answer and explanation
Where does he work? He works on a farm. She doesn't work in a school. Keep the base form after does/doesn't, add s in his positive statement and use on a farm.
Exercise 8
IntermediateGive Nadia's job, workplace and three tasks. Do not add information not in the text.
Answer and explanation
Nadia is a mechanic. She works in a garage near the bus station. She checks cars, repairs bikes and talks to customers. The interview gives no town name or working hours.
Exercise 9
IntermediateChange Nadia's words to she: I work in a garage. I check cars. I don't work on Sunday.
Answer and explanation
She works in a garage. She checks cars. She doesn't work on Sunday. Positive work and check gain s; after doesn't, work stays unchanged.
Exercise 10
IntermediateMatch What does she do?, Where does she work? and What does she do at work? with She repairs bikes, She is a mechanic and She works in a garage.
Answer and explanation
What does she do? She is a mechanic. Where does she work? She works in a garage. What does she do at work? She repairs bikes. The answers supply a job, a place and a task respectively.
Exercise 11
EasyAdd final e to cap, tap and mad. Read each new word and say whether the final e adds a syllable.
Answer and explanation
Cape, tape, made. In these words, the vowel changes to long a /eɪ/ and the final e stays silent. It does not add a separate spoken syllable.
Exercise 12
IntermediateAdd a comma and and: She prepares soup salads sandwiches. Then write a two-item list with cars and bikes.
Answer and explanation
She prepares soup, salads and sandwiches. A second acceptable style is soup, salads, and sandwiches. For two items: She repairs cars and bikes. No comma is needed between just these two items.
Exercise 13
IntermediateAsk a partner to read twice: My aunt is a farmer. She works on a farm. She grows beans, carrots and potatoes. Write her job, workplace and three crops.
Answer and explanation
Job: farmer. Workplace: a farm. Crops: beans, carrots and potatoes. This partner-read script practises the difference between a person word and a place word.
Exercise 14
ChallengeWrite four statements about a real or fictional adult. Include a job, a workplace, three list items and a negative. Then add a Where question with its answer.
Answer and explanation
Model: My aunt is a doctor. She works in a clinic. At work, she uses a pen, a notebook and a computer. She doesn't work on Sunday. Where does she work? She works in a clinic. The final question-and-answer pair can be a separate line; check each verb and avoid inventing private details about a real person.