Short Answers

Responding to yes/no questions: Yes, I do. No, she isn't. Yes, they have.

beginner

When to Use

•Responding to yes/no questions politely (not just 'yes' or 'no').
•Positive: Yes + subject + auxiliary. Yes, I do. Yes, she is.
•Negative: No + subject + auxiliary + not. No, I don't. No, she isn't.
•Match the auxiliary from the question.
•More polite and natural than just 'yes' or 'no'.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Yes, + subject + auxiliary (do/does/did/am/is/are/have/has/can/will...)

Negative (-)

No, + subject + auxiliary + n't

Question (?)

Short answers respond to questions

💡 Don't repeat the main verb in short answers. Use only the auxiliary.

Examples

✓'Do you like coffee?' 'Yes, I do.'

✗'Do you like coffee?' 'Yes, I like.'

Don't repeat the main verb.

✓'Is she coming?' 'No, she isn't.'

✗'Is she coming?' 'No, she doesn't.'

Match the auxiliary (is, not does).

✓'Have you been there?' 'Yes, I have.'

✗'Have you been there?' 'Yes, I do.'

Match 'have' with 'have'.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Listen for the auxiliary in the question.
• Use the same auxiliary in your answer.
• Positive: Yes, + pronoun + auxiliary.
• Negative: No, + pronoun + auxiliary + n't.

yes-no-questions question-tags so-neither-responses 📝 questions-beginner 📝 short-answers-quiz

Short Answers

Responding to yes/no questions: Yes, I do. No, she isn't. Yes, they have.

beginner

When to Use

•Responding to yes/no questions politely (not just 'yes' or 'no').
•Positive: Yes + subject + auxiliary. Yes, I do. Yes, she is.
•Negative: No + subject + auxiliary + not. No, I don't. No, she isn't.
•Match the auxiliary from the question.
•More polite and natural than just 'yes' or 'no'.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Yes, + subject + auxiliary (do/does/did/am/is/are/have/has/can/will...)

Negative (-)

No, + subject + auxiliary + n't

Question (?)

Short answers respond to questions

💡 Don't repeat the main verb in short answers. Use only the auxiliary.

Examples

✓'Do you like coffee?' 'Yes, I do.'

✗'Do you like coffee?' 'Yes, I like.'

Don't repeat the main verb.

✓'Is she coming?' 'No, she isn't.'

✗'Is she coming?' 'No, she doesn't.'

Match the auxiliary (is, not does).

✓'Have you been there?' 'Yes, I have.'

✗'Have you been there?' 'Yes, I do.'

Match 'have' with 'have'.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Listen for the auxiliary in the question.
• Use the same auxiliary in your answer.
• Positive: Yes, + pronoun + auxiliary.
• Negative: No, + pronoun + auxiliary + n't.

yes-no-questions question-tags so-neither-responses 📝 questions-beginner 📝 short-answers-quiz

Short Answers

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Short Answers

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can swim.'

✗'Does he work here?' 'Yes, he works.'

✗'Are you ready?' 'Yes, I do.'

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗'Can you swim?' 'Yes, I can swim.'

✗'Does he work here?' 'Yes, he works.'

✗'Are you ready?' 'Yes, I do.'

💡 Practice Tips

Related