The verb to be and the subject are reversed in questions (inversion):
Affirmative: |
||
I |
am |
English. |
Questions: |
||
Am |
I |
English? |
I am tired.
Are you tired?
She is English.
Is she English?
He is from Barcelona.
Is he from Barcelona?
We are at university.
Are we at university?
They are cold.
Are they cold?
John is hungry.
Is John hungry?
John and Mary are at home.
Are John and Mary at home?
If we answer yes or no to a question in English, we usually repeat the verb to be in the answer. In the negative form, there is often contraction between the verb to be or between the subject and the word not:
Are you tired?
Yes, I am.
No, I am not / No, I'm not.
Is she English?
Yes, she is.
No, she is not / No, she's not / No, she isn't.
Is he from Barcelona?
Yes, he is.
No, he is not / No, he's not / No, he isn't.
Are we at university?
Yes, we are.
No, we are not / No, we're not / No we aren't.
Are they cold?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.
Is John hungry?
Yes, he is.
No, he is not / No, he's not / No, he isn't.
Are John and Mary at home?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.
Is it new?
Yes, it is.
No, it is not / No, it's not / No, it isn't.
Is the book old?
Yes, it is.
No, it is not / No, it's not / No, it isn't.
Are they on the shelf?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.
Are the cakes in the cupboard?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.
- Exercises on short answers...
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