Questions with the verb "to be"
Beginner (A1)en
Yes/No (To be) Questions
Present simple:
Questions with the Verb “Be”
Yes / No questions are questions you can answer with:
- Yes
- No
Example:
- “She is happy.”
- → “Is she happy?” (Yes she is / No she is not)
1. How to Form Yes / No Questions with “Be”
The verb “be” is different from most other verbs.
To make a question, you change the word order.
Structure:
- Am / Is / Are + subject + adjective/noun etc.?
Examples:
- “Am I late?”
- “Am I in the right place?”
- “Is he your friend?”
- “Is she ready?”
- “Are they at home?”
- “Are we going home?”
- “Are you okay?”
You do not use do / does with the verb “be.”
2. Answering Yes / No for Questions with the verb "to be"
You answer with yes or no, using the verb be again.
Positive answers:
Positive answers:
Examples:
- “Am I early?”
→ ”Yes, you are.”
- “Is she happy?”
→ ”Yes, she is.”
- “Are they ready?”
→ ”Yes, they are.”
Negative answers:
Negative answers:
Examples:
- “Am I early?”
→ ”No you are not. / No, you're not. / No you aren't.”
- “Is she happy?”
→ ”No she is not. / No, she's not. / No she isn't.”
- “Are they ready?”
→ ”No they are not. / No, they're not. / No they aren't.”
Important rule:
Short answers never repeat the full sentence.
Important rule:
Short answers never repeat the full sentence.
3. “Be” vs Other Verbs (Important Difference)
Most verbs need do / does to make questions.
The verb “be” does not.
The verb “be” does not.
Compare:
- “She is happy.” → “Is she happy?”
- “She likes coffee.” → “Does she like coffee?”
4. Tips:
- Move am / is / are to the front to make a question
- Do not use do/does with “be”
- Short answers use am / is / are
- “Be” questions are short, clear, and very common
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic