Learn English – “Who pays” vs “who does pay”

auxiliary-verbsdo-supportquestions

  • Who pays for that?

  • Who does pay for that?

What is the difference between these two sentences? Are both grammatically correct?

Best Answer

The first is correct and the best way to say it.

A simple rule when using the interrogative pronouns with a verb in a question. If the question is about the subject of the verb, you don't include do, does or did:

Who pays for that?

Who let the dogs out?

In case the question is about the object, you do include them:

Who does Santos love?

Who did the teacher punish?

Note that those examples are in simple present and simple past only. Things might change in other tenses.

Update:

Also note that You might use the second sentence if you want to use the emphatic do. The emphatic do is simple used when you want to emphasize a verb. For instance:

- I don't think you like this song.

- Come on! I really do like it a lot.

There is also the example stangdon mention below in the comments.