Yes / No Questions with the verb "to be" (A1)

Yes/No questions are questions you can answer with Yes or No.

In this lesson, you will learn how to make Yes/No questions with the verb be.

"Is she happy?" → Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.

1. How to Form Yes/No Questions with "Be"

The verb be is different from most other verbs. To make a question, put am / is / are before the subject.

To make a question, you change the word order.

Use this word order:

Am / Is / Are + subject + other information?

The information after the subject can be a describing word (happy, ready), a person or thing (your friend, a teacher), a place (at home, in the office), or a word about time (late, early).

“She is happy.” → “Is she happy?”
“Am I late?”
“Am I in the right place?”
“Is he your friend?”
“Is she ready?”
“Are they at home?”
“Are we in the right room?”
“Are you okay?”

Do not use do or does with the verb be.

✗ "Does she is happy?"
✓ "Is she happy?"

2. Answering Yes/No Questions with the Verb "Be"

You answer yes/no questions with a short answer: yes or no + subject + be.

Positive answers

Pattern: Yes, + subject + be.

“Am I early?” → Yes, you are.
“Is she happy?” → Yes, she is.
“Are they ready?” → Yes, they are.

Negative answers

Pattern: No, + subject + be + not.

“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.

All three forms are correct. In speaking, the contracted forms (you're not or you aren't) are more common.

Do not repeat the adjective, noun, or place in a short answer.

✗ "Yes, she is happy."
✓ "Yes, she is."

3. Tips

Remember: with the verb be, you move the verb to the front to make a question. You do not need do or does.

Think of it as swapping: She is happy. → Is she happy?

Yes / No Questions with the verb "to be"