34 Yes/no Questions: A Use

34 Yes/no questions
A Use
A yes/no question is one that we can answer with yes or no.
Are you ready? ~ Yes, nearly/No, not quite.
Has anyone seen my bag? ~ Yes, it's on the chair./No, I
don't
think so.
These questions are asking for information. For example,
Daniel wants to know if Vicky is ready or not.
Sometimes yes/no questions have other uses, especially
questions with modal verbs. For example, when Matthew says
Shall we go then? he is making a suggestion, not asking for
information. Here are some examples of the different uses.
Making a suggestion: Shall we eat out
tonight?
Can/Could you write the address
Offering:
down for me, please?
Can I carry something for you? ~ No,
Inviting:
it's OK, thanks.
Would you like to come to a party?Asking permission:
Yes, I'd love to.
May I use your phone? ~ Yes, of COURSE
Requesting:
B Form
A yes/no question begins with an auxiliary verb. An auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or a modal verb
e.g. can. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
AUXILIARY
SUBJECT
Is
Has
Can
it
David
Emma
raining?
got a car?
drive?
STATEMENT:
QUESTION:
It is raining.
IS it raining?
The main verb be also comes before the subject in a question.

Is it cold out there? Are you ready? Was it easy? If there is more than one
auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject.
Have you been working? Could we have done better?
In the present simple and past simple we use a form of do.
AUXILIARY
Do
Does
Did
SUBJECT
the buses
Mark
you
run every day?

play golf?
like the concert?
STATEMENT:
QUESTION:
A question cannot begin with an ordinary verb such as run, play or like.
NOT Plays-Mark-golf? and NOT Liked your the-concert?
The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed.
NOT Does-Mark plays-golf? and NOT Did you-liked-the-concert?
35 Answers with yes and no
They (do) run every day.

Do they run every day?
34 Exercises
1 Use (A)
Write down the use of each question. Choose from these uses:
asking for information (x3), asking permission, inviting, making a suggestion, offering, requesting (x2)
? Could you post this letter for me?
requesting
? Can we get a number 35 bus from this stop?
asking for information
1 Can I help you with those bags?
2 Shall we stop for a rest?
3 Is it Tuesday today?
4 Could you wait a moment, please?
5 Would you like to have tea with us?
6 Will your friend be here next weekend?
7 May I sit down?
2 Form(B)
Claude Jennings, the World Quiz Champion, is going to be on Guy's chat show.
Guy is wondering what to ask Claude. Read what Guy is thinking and write down his questions.
(I expect Claude has won lots of prizes.) Have you won lots of prizes ?
1 (1 wonder if he's a rich man.) .....................................................................................................................
2 (Perhaps quizzes are his only hobby.) ..................................
3 (I expect he worked hard at school.) ...........
4 (I wonder if he's got any other interests.) ..................
5 (1 wonder if it's an interesting life.)
.........................................................................
6 (Perhaps his wife asks him quiz questions.) ...............................................................
7 (And maybe he answers questions in his dreams.)...
3 Yes/no questions (A-B)

What would you say in these situations?
You want to know if Mark has been to Los Angeles. Ask Sarah.
Has Mark been to Los Angeles ?
1 You aren't sure if Rachel and Vicky are going to America. Ask them.
2 You want to know if Laura plays tennis. Ask Trevor.
3 You are wondering if Claire enjoyed her holiday. Ask her.
4 You want to suggest to Rachel that you both go for a walk.
5 You need to know if David will be at the club tonight. Ask him.
6 You want to know if the train is on time. Ask Mark.
7 You are wondering if Mike and Harriet go camping. Ask David.
8 You want to ask Matthew if you can borrow his squash racket.
9 You want to know if Nick has got a motor bike. Ask him.
35 Short answers, e.g. Yes, it is.

A Answering yes or no
Look at the answers to these questions.
Is it raining? ~ Yes. Are we going to be late? ~ Yes, we are.
Did you say something? ~ No. Did you finish the crossword? ~ No, I didn't.
We can sometimes answer a question with a simple yes or no, but we often use a short answer like No, I
didn't. We usually put a comma after yes or no.
We do not normally use a full sentence, but we can do if we want to add emphasis to the answer.
Did you open my letter? ~ No, I didn't open your letter.
Sometimes, to be polite, we may need to add information.
Did you get the tickets? ~ No, I didn't. There wasn't time, I'm afraid. Sorry.
B Form
A positive short answer is yes + a pronoun + an auxiliary.
SHORT ANSWER
QUESTION
Auxiliary
you working tomorrow? ~
Emma got a computer? ~
I need my passport? ~
they repair your phone? ~
Are
Has
Will
Did
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Pronoun
I
she
you
they
Auxiliary
am.
has.
will.
did.
We can also use the main verb be in a short answer.

7s it time to go? ~ Yes, it is. It's ten past eleven.
Note that in the present simple and past simple we use a form of do. Do
you like classical music? ~ Yes, I do. NOT YES I LIKE.
A negative short answer is no + a pronoun + an auxiliary + n't.
QUESTION
Auxiliary
Is
Have
Will
Does
SHORT ANSWER
the photocopier working now? ~

the children gone to sleep? ~
there be food at the party? ~
this train stop at Derby? ~
No,
No,
No,
No,
Pronoun
it
they
there
it
Auxiliat
isn't.
haven't.
won't.
doesn't.
But note No, I'm not.

Are you working tomorrow? ~ No, I'm not. NOT No-,-I-amn't.
C Answering requests, suggestions, offers and invitations

To answer a request, suggestion, etc, we normally use a phrase like Yes, of course or Yes, please rather than a
short answer. If we answer in the negative, we have to give some explanation.
Request:
Suggestion:
Offer:
Invitation:
Could you help me move these chairs, please? ~ Yes, of course. OR I'm afraid I'm rather busy.
Shall we have a coffee? ~ Yes, OK. OR Sorry, I can't. I have to go.
Can I give you a hand? ~ Yes, please. That's very kind of you. OR It's OK, thanks. I can manage
Would you like to come to the barbecue? ~ Yes, please. I'd love to. OR I'd love to, but I'll be away
Short negative answers would sound strange or impolite here.
35 Exercises
1 Form (B)
It's eleven o'clock, and everyone has arrived at a party. Put in the short answers.
Have you got a drink? ~ Yes, I have, thank you. I've just put it down somewhere.
1 Can you speak Arabic? ~ ......................................... , but not very well.
2 Is it raining outside? ~................................................. It's just started.
3 Has David come with you? ~ .................... . He's in hospital, actually.
4 Did you come by car, Tom? ~ .................................................It took ages because of all the traffic.
5 Are those people over there your friends? ~....... .1 don't know them at all.
6 Do you like England? ~ ................................................. -I'm enjoying my stay here.
7 Is your brother here? ~ ................................................. He's away on business at the moment.
8 Have you seen Nick recently? ~.................................................I think he's moved away.
2 Form (B)
It's one o'clock in the morning, and the party is in full swing.
People are still talking. Put in the short answers.
Are you French? ~ No, I'm not. I'm Italian. I'm from Milan.
1 Will you and Laura be here in August? ~................................................. We're going to France.
2 Did you remember to bring the photos? ~ ................................................ I'll give them to you in a minute.
3 Has Rita broken up with her boyfriend? ~................................................. It's all over, she told me.
4 Did you see that documentary about the ozone layer on television last night?
......................................... I was working late, unfortunately.
5 Does Laura like these old songs? ~ ............................................. She loves Elvis Presley.
6 Are you and Mike staying the night here? ~ ................................................ We have to get home tonight.
7 Can we afford a taxi? ~ .................................................It's quite a long way.
8 Are you OK, Vicky? ~................................................. I feel really awful.
3 Answering questions (A-C)

Which would normally be the best answer?
Are you busy today?
a) Yes, busy, b) V Yes, I am.
1 Is it too hot in here for you?
a) No, it isn't, b) No, I'm fine, thanks.
2 Do you know Emma?
a) Yes. b) Yes, we live in the same building.
3 Tell me, did you steal my money?
a) No. b) No, I didn't steal your money.
4 Do you live on the campus?
a) Yes, I do. b) Yes, I live on it.
5 Would you like to come out with us for the day?
a) Yes, I would like, b) Yes, please.
6 Is it the eighteenth today?
a) Yes, it is. b) Yes, it is the eighteenth of November today.
7 Did you bring my CD?
a) No. b) No, sorry. I forgot it.
8 Can I carry your bags?
a) No, you can't, b) It's all right, thanks.

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34 Yes/no questions

The main verb be also comes before the subject in a question.

run every day?

They (do) run every day.

3 Yes/no questions (A-B)

35 Short answers, e.g. Yes, it is.

We can also use the main verb be in a short answer.

the photocopier working now? ~

But note No, I'm not.

C Answering requests, suggestions, offers and invitations

Short negative answers would sound strange or impolite here.

3 Answering questions (A-C)

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