1.1.2: Questions with "To Be"
- Page ID
- 272065
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Yes/No Questions & Short Answers
Yes/no questions mean that the answer to the question is either yes or no. These questions don’t use wh- question words.
The subject of a sentence is the person, or thing doing the action or being described by the verb. In a statement, the subject comes first, and the verb comes second. When you make a yes/no question, the subject and verb change places (invert). The verb comes first and then the subject.
Part 1 Directions: Choose the subject and the verb of each sentence.
- Cats are soft.
- She is from Brazil.
- The dog is cute.
- We are happy.
- The computer is broken.
- He is a smart guy.
- The truck is big.
- They are busy.
Part 2 Directions: Now, on your own lined paper, change the sentences from Part 1 into yes/no questions.
Part 3 Directions: Sit with a partner. Ask your partner the yes/no questions you just wrote. Your partner can answer any way he or she wants.
A: Are cats soft?
B: Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
Short Answers
Study the table below for more information about answering a yes/no question. It includes short answers, which are very common in spoken English. We usually use contractions in negative answers (e.g., No, I’m not.), but the full forms in short answers are common, too (e.g., No, I am not.). Notice that there are NO contractions for affirmative short answers!
BE Verb |
Subject |
Noun, Adjective, or Prepositional Phrase |
AFFIRMATIVE Short Answers |
NEGATIVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Am |
I |
hungry? |
Yes, I am. |
No, I’m not. |
Is |
he |
a student? |
Yes, he is. |
No, he’s not. |
Are |
you |
in the right room? |
Yes, I am. |
No, I’m not. |
Directions: Your teacher will give you a worksheet to use. Walk around the room and ask your classmates questions about the topic in each box. With your partner, ask take turns asking a question. Use short answers to respond.
- If your partner answers, “Yes, I am,” write their name in the box. Find a new partner.
- If they answer, “No, I’m not,” ask another question until they say yes. Then find a new partner.
A: Are you ________?
B: Yes, I am. (or) No, I’m not.
Part 1 Directions: Change the following statements to yes/no questions.
You are from Peru. → Are you from Peru?
He is an immigrant. → Is he an immigrant?
- The computer is broken.
- He is lucky.
- The cats are under the table.
- Jacques is from Côte d’Ivoire.
- Pigs are smart.
- The desk is heavy.
- I am hungry.
- The boys are on the bus.
- You are a mechanic.
- We are late.
Part 2 Directions: Now ask your partner the questions. Your partner will answer using short answers. Answer using affirmative and negative short answers.
Part 1 Directions: Make statements and questions from the words given. Add a BE verb (am, is, are) to complete the statement. Then, turn the statement into a question.
My friend / at school now
Statement: My friend is at school now.
Question: Is my friend at school now?
1. the old woman / from Moldova
Statement: ________________________________
Question: ________________________________
2. the train / at the station
Statement: ________________________________
Question: ________________________________
3. the men / construction workers
Statement: ________________________________
Question: ________________________________
4. the little girl / 4 years old
Statement: ________________________________
Question: ________________________________
5. the dog and cat / in the yard
Statement: ________________________________________
Question: ________________________________________
Part 2 Directions: Ask your partner the questions from above. Your partner can answer with affirmative or negative short answers.
Short Answers: An Expanded View
Short answers are very common in spoken English. However, there is only one way to answer in the affirmative. Contractions are not allowed. With negative short answers, there are different ways to answer depending on the amount of emphasis you want to make.
Affirmative Short Answers
| Yes/No Questions | No Contractions! |
|---|---|
| Am I hungry? | Yes, I am. |
| Is he/she/it hungry? | Yes, he is. |
| Are you hungry? | Yes, I am. Yes, we are. |
Negative Short Answers
| Most Common Contraction |
Alternative Contraction |
Without Contraction (Full Form) |
|---|---|---|
| No, I’m not. | No, I am not. | |
| No, he isn’t. No, she isn't. No, it isn't. |
No, he's not. No, she's not. No, it's not. |
No, he is not. No, she is not. No, it is not. |
| No, you aren’t. No, we aren’t. No, they aren’t. |
No, you're not. No, we're not. No, they're not. |
No, you are not. No, we are not. No, they are not. |
Less emphasis <——————————————–> More emphasis
Directions: Your instructor will give you a card with a question on it. Walk around the room and ask a classmate the question. Your partner will ask you a question. Use short answers to answer the questions. After you both ask a question, exchange cards and find a new partner.
Information Questions with the BE Verb
We use wh- question words at the beginning of information questions.
Study the chart below about wh- question words and their meanings.
Wh- Question Word |
Asks About: |
Example Questions |
|---|---|---|
What |
things |
What is that? |
Who |
people |
Who is the teacher? |
Where |
places |
Where is your school? |
How |
manner |
How are you? |
When |
time |
When is your birthday? |
Why |
reasons |
Why are you late? |
The formation of information questions is the same as yes/no questions. Add the wh- question word (who, where, what, why, when, how) to the beginning of the question.
Wh- Question Word |
Asks About: |
Example Questions |
|---|---|---|
What |
things |
What is that? |
Who |
people |
Who is the teacher? |
Where |
places |
Where is your school? |
How |
manner |
How are you? |
When |
time |
When is your birthday? |
Why |
reasons |
Why are you late? |
IS is followed by a singular subject.
ARE is followed by a plural subject.
Part 1 Directions: Unscramble the words to form information questions.
- the weather / is / how / today?
- is / where / your child?
- on the table? / is / what
- is / the last day of class? / when
- our teacher? / is / who
- are / you / late / why
Part 2 Directions: Ask your partner the questions you just unscrambled.
Part 1 Directions: Interview your partner. Ask your partner the questions below and write their answers. Later, you will put the answers into a Venn Diagram.
1. What is your name?
2. What color are your eyes?
3. What color is your hair?
4. How tall are you?
5. Where are you from?
6. Are you single, married, divorced, or widowed?
7. How old are you?
8. What is your job?
Part 2 Directions: Your instructor will give you a Venn Diagram to use. A Venn Diagram is used to organize ideas and take notes. With your partner, fill in the chart to find out what you have in common. In common means what you share or do that’s the same.
Part 3 Directions: Now write 5 sentences about your partner. Use the BE verb with nouns and adjectives.
- __________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________
Explorations 1: Grammar for the Experienced Beginner Copyright © by Susan; Jen; and Kit is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License,