UNIVERSIDAD METROPOLITANA VICERRECTORÍA ASOCIADA DE DESARROLLO Y RETENCIÓN
Programa de Tutorías
Yes/No Questions & Short Answers
Purpose
The purpose to ask a 'Yes/No' question is to have a short answer and in English is more polite than just saying ‘Yes. / No.’ That is why short answers are very commonly used. But be careful, there can be more than one verb. Sometimes, when using other verbs such as have, do, go, etc., we formulate the questions and answers in a different way.
How to use them Yes/No questions with verb Be
Subject and verb change their position in statement and question. Statement • You are from England.
Question • Are you from England? Explanation: In the statement, the verb goes after the subject. On the other hand, when asking a question, the verb goes before the subject .
Statements & Questions with verb Be Statement: I am happy. Subject + verb “be” + complement Question: Am I happy? Verb “be” + subject + complement+? Statement: It is big. Subject + verb “be” + complement Question: Is it big? Verb “be” + subject + complement+? Statement: We are good friends. Subject + verb “be” + complement Question: Are we good friends? Verb “be” + subject + complement+?
How to use them Short Answers
To form short answers, choose if you want to answer in the affirmative (“yes”) or the negative (“no”) voice.
Then, write the subject or subject pronoun. Finally, write the correct form of the verb “be”.
If you choose “no” as an answer, write “not” after the verb.
Affirmative Question: Are we funny? Answer: Yes, we are.
Negative Question: Are we funny? Answer: No, we are not.
Affirmative and Negative Answers with verb Be Examples Question
Affirmative answer
Negative answer
Are they teachers?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not.
Are we funny?
Yes, we are.
No, we are not.
Is she smart?
Yes, she is.
No, she is not.
Is it amazing?
Yes, it is.
No, it is not.
Am I beautiful?
Yes, you are.
No, you are not.
Important If “you” is the subject of the question, “you” must be replaced by “I” in the answer.
Examples Question
Affirmative answer
Negative answer
Are you working?
Yes, I am.
No, I am not.
Are you busy?
Yes, I am.
No, I am not.
Are you cold?
Yes, I am.
No, I am not.
How to use them Yes/No questions with other verbs
Subject and verb change their position in statement and question. Statement • Carlos has a dog named Fido.
Question • Does Carlos have a dog named Fido? Explanation: In the statement, the verb goes after the subject. On the other hand, when asking a question, we put an auxiliary verb first, then the subject and the main verb changes to its basic form.
Explanation • When you have the pronouns “I, you, we they”, you can substitute the noun for a pronoun by following the rules. Then, you will use the verb in its basic form; have, do, go, speak, walk, etc.
• We add the auxiliary verb “Do” at the beginning of the question and close with a question mark.
• The main verb will remain the same even when you change the statement into a question.
Statement • You have a Chihuahua.
Question • Do you have a Chihuahua?
Explanation • When dealing with the pronouns “he, she, it” or a noun, the verb (in an affirmative voice) will be written differently even though it means the same; such as has, does, goes, speaks, walks, etc. You have to add –es or –s at the end of the main verb. • Add the verb “Does” at the beginning of the question and close with a question mark. • Then, when changing the statement into a question, change the verb to its basic form; such as have, do, go, speak, walk, etc.
Statement • She goes to the park to jog.
Question • Does she go to the park to jog?
Yes/No Questions with other verbs Statement: She has a flower shop. Subject + other verb + complement Question: Does she have a flower shop? Do/Does + subject + main verb + complement + ? Statement: We do yoga. Subject + other verb + complement Question: Do we do yoga? Do/Does + subject + main verb + complement + ?
Statement: He goes to the beach every Sunday. Subject + other verb + complement Question: Does he go to the beach every Sunday? Do/Does + subject + main verb + complement+?
How to use them Short Answers
To form short answers, choose if you want to answer in the affirmative (“yes”) or the negative (“no”).
Then, write the subject or subject pronoun. Then, write “yes” or “no” depending on if your answer is affirmative or negative.
If you choose “no” as an answer, write “not” after the verb.
Affirmative Question: Do you?
Question: Do you? Question: Do you Answer: Yes,have she money? is. Answer: Yes, she is. Answer: Yes, I do.
Negative Question: Do you have money? Answer: No, I do not.
Affirmative and Negative Answers with other verbs Examples Question
Affirmative answer
Negative answer
Do you need help?
Yes, I do.
No, I do not.
Does he speak French?
Yes, he does.
No, he does not.
Does Sara do yoga?
Yes, she does.
No, she does not.
Does he go to the park?
Yes, he does.
No, he does not.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Yes, I do.
No, I do not.
References: ď‚—
Elbaum, S. (2009). Grammar in Context 1 5th Edition. Cengage Learning.
Revised by Prof. María Isaac – English Coordinator Cristabel R. Ocasio Ilarraza – English Tutor
October 2009