Yes/No Questions & Short Answers

1. Forming Yes/No Questions

💡 Yes/No questions are designed to be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No.” They are usually formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary/modal verb. Below are three common ways to form these questions—with the verb “to be,” with auxiliary verbs, and with modal verbs. Each category contains 10 examples for thorough practice.

A. With the Verb “To Be”

Structure: Auxiliary (am/is/are) + subject + [complement]?

Examples:

• 1️⃣ 😴 Are you tired? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• 2️⃣ 👦 Is he busy? → Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
• 3️⃣ ⏰ Are we late? → Yes, we are. / No, we’re not.
• 4️⃣ 😊 Is she happy? → Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
• 5️⃣ 👥 Are they ready? → Yes, they are. / No, they’re not.
• 6️⃣ 🙋 Am I early? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• 7️⃣ ☔ Is it raining? → Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
• 8️⃣ 🍽️ Are you hungry? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• 9️⃣ 🏪 Is the store open? → Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
• 🔟 🌙 Are the kids asleep? → Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

B. With Auxiliary Verbs (Do/Does/Did)

Structure: Do/Does/Did + subject + base verb + [object]?

Examples:

• 1️⃣ 🍕 Do you like pizza? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
• 2️⃣ 📚 Does she read books? → Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
• 3️⃣ 🎉 Did they enjoy the party? → Yes, they did. / No, they didn’t.
• 4️⃣ 🆘 Do we need help? → Yes, we do. / No, we don’t.
• 5️⃣ 👷 Does he work here? → Yes, he does. / No, he doesn’t.
• 6️⃣ 🎬 Did you see that movie? → Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
• 7️⃣ ⚽ Do they play soccer? → Yes, they do. / No, they don’t.
• 8️⃣ 🐶 Does the dog bark at night? → Yes, it does. / No, it doesn’t.
• 9️⃣ 📄 Did you finish your homework? → Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
• 🔟 🧥 Do you need a jacket? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.

C. With Modal Verbs

Structure: Modal (can/will/should/might, etc.) + subject + base verb + [object]?

Examples:

• 1️⃣ 🏊 Can you swim? → Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
• 2️⃣ 👯 Will you join us? → Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.
• 3️⃣ 🛠️ Should he fix it? → Yes, he should. / No, he shouldn’t.
• 4️⃣ 🙏 Could you help me? → Yes, I could. / No, I couldn’t.
• 5️⃣ 🚪 May I come in? → Yes, you may. / No, you may not.
• 6️⃣ ☕ Would you like some coffee? → Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn’t.
• 7️⃣ 🚗 Can she drive? → Yes, she can. / No, she can’t.
• 8️⃣ 🎫 Will they participate? → Yes, they will. / No, they won’t.
• 9️⃣ ⏳ Must we leave now? → Yes, we must. / No, we must not.
• 🔟 💃 Shall we dance? → Yes, we shall. / No, we shall not.

2. Short Answers for Yes/No Questions

💡 Short answers allow you to respond quickly without repeating the entire question. They mirror the auxiliary or modal verb used in the question. Below are two types of short answers—with the basic structure and expanded versions—each featuring 10 examples.

A. Basic Structure

Structure: Yes/No + subject + auxiliary/modal verb (same form as in the question).

Examples:

• 1️⃣ 😴 Are you tired? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• 2️⃣ 👦 Is he busy? → Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
• 3️⃣ 🍕 Do you like pizza? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
• 4️⃣ 🏊 Can you swim? → Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
• 5️⃣ 🎉 Did they enjoy the party? → Yes, they did. / No, they didn’t.
• 6️⃣ 🏠 Is she at home? → Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
• 7️⃣ 🤝 Will you join us? → Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.
• 8️⃣ 📚 Have you finished your work? → Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
• 9️⃣ 🔧 Does it work? → Yes, it does. / No, it doesn’t.
• 🔟 🚶 Shall we start? → Yes, we shall. / No, we shall not.

B. Expanded Short Answers

Sometimes, adding a brief reason or extra detail can make your response more informative.

Examples:

• 1️⃣ 😂 Are you laughing? → Yes, I am (that joke was hilarious!).
• 2️⃣ 📞 Is he calling you? → No, he isn’t (he left a text message instead).
• 3️⃣ 🎶 Do you love this song? → Yes, I really do (it’s my all-time favorite!).
• 4️⃣ 🧩 Can they solve the puzzle? → Yes, they can (they’ve practiced a lot).
• 5️⃣ 📝 Did she complete the project? → Yes, she did (and she did a fantastic job!).
• 6️⃣ 📆 Will you attend the meeting? → No, I won’t (I have another appointment).
• 7️⃣ 🍽️ Have you tried the new restaurant? → Yes, I have (the food was absolutely delicious!).
• 8️⃣ 🎨 Does she enjoy painting? → Yes, she does (it’s her passion).
• 9️⃣ 🔄 Is it working properly? → No, it isn’t (there seems to be a technical glitch).
• 🔟 🎈 Will they come to the party? → Yes, they will (they’re really excited about it).

3. Tips and Common Mistakes

💡 To master yes/no questions and short answers, keep these tips and common pitfalls in mind:

• 1️⃣ Mirror the Verb: Always use the same auxiliary or modal verb in your answer as in the question. (e.g., “Are they coming?” → “Yes, they are.”)
• 2️⃣ Include the Subject: A simple “Yes” or “No” can be too vague; include the subject and verb for clarity.
• 3️⃣ Correct Contractions: Use proper contractions for a natural tone. (e.g., “No, I’m not” instead of “No, I am not” in informal speech.)
• 4️⃣ Match the Tense: Make sure your answer reflects the tense used in the question.
• 5️⃣ Be Concise: Short answers should be brief—avoid extra words that might confuse the listener.
• 6️⃣ Practice Intonation: In spoken English, rising intonation in questions and a clear, affirmative tone in answers are important.
• 7️⃣ Modal Accuracy: When using modal verbs, ensure you are familiar with their forms and negatives. (e.g., “can” becomes “can’t”.)
• 8️⃣ Context Matters: Sometimes context may require a slightly longer answer; adjust accordingly.
• 9️⃣ Common Mistake: Avoid mismatching the verb form (e.g., answering “Yes, I do” to “Are you tired?”).
• 🔟 Review and Repeat: Regular practice with varied examples can help solidify these structures in your mind.