Yes/No Questions

Rules for creating Yes/No Questions.

1. Creating Yes/No Questions with the BE Verb (am/are/is/was/were)

Picture a regular sentence with the BE verb, like 'He is tall.' As usual, this sentence begins with the subject, followed by the verb. This is known as the sentence word order in English.

To transform a sentence with the BE verb into a question, we adopt question word order. This involves switching the subject and the BE verb:

• He is tall. → Is he tall? (In the question, the verb precedes the subject)

• They are American. → Are they American?

• The children are at school. → Are the children at school?

These rules apply similarly in the past tense:

• It was nice. → Was it nice?

• New York was expensive. → Was New York expensive?

• We were late. → Were we late?

Let's engage in some practice exercises.

Exercise #1: Yes/No Questions with the BE Verb

1. The school is open. →

2. The waiter was rude. →

3. Yoga is popular. →

4. I am sick. →

5. You were tired. →

6. Sarah was his teacher. →

Answers

1. Is the school open?

2. Was the waiter rude?

3. Is yoga popular?

4. Are you sick?

5. Were you tired?

6. Was Sarah his teacher?

In the next exercise, examine the answer to a question and then formulate the question accordingly.

Exercise #2: Yes/No Questions with the BE Verb

(Note: The answer being 'Yes' or 'No' does not alter the question form. Avoid including 'not' in the question.)

1. A: Yes. I was there. Q: ?

2. A: No, we were not rich. Q: ?

3. A: Yes, today is my birthday. Q: ?

4. A: No, the price was not the same. Q: ?

Answers

1. Were you there?

2. Were you rich?

3. Is today your birthday?

4. Was the price the same?

2. Creating Yes/No Questions with Auxiliary/Modal Verbs

An auxiliary verb, also known as a helping verb, is a short word that 'assists' the main verb in creating tense. Modal verbs, such as can, must, should, might, and may, also serve as helping verbs. Examples include:

• I have written the report. (Present Perfect tense)

If a sentence has both a main verb and a helping verb (auxiliary or modal), switch the subject and the helping verb around. If there is another helping verb, place it after the subject.

• He will come. → Will he come?

• They are visiting Paris. → Are they visiting Paris?

• She has done the housework. → Has she done the housework?

• John has been fired. → Has John been fired? (HelpingVerb1 + Subject + HelpingVerb2+ Main Verb)

• They will be hired. → Will they be hired?

• The train is going to arrive. → Is the train going to arrive?

• The printer was being repaired. → Was the printer being repaired?

In essence, when transitioning from sentence word order (Subject + Verb) to question word order (Verb + Subject), exchange the subject with the first helping verb. If there is an additional helping verb, position it after the subject.

Exercise #3: Yes/No Questions with Auxiliary/Modal Verbs

1. John can read. →

2. It might be broken. →

3. We will join. →

4. Peter is going to go. →

5. Luan is going to be hired. →

6. He is being interviewed now. →

Answers

1. Can John read?

2. Might it be broken?

3. Will we join?

4. Is Peter going to go?

5. Is Luan going to be hired?

6. Is he being interviewed now?

Exercise #4: Yes/No Questions with Auxiliary/Modal Verbs

1. Q: ? A: Yes, she was going to visit.

2. Q: ? A: Yes, your name is being called.

3. Q: ? A: No, they haven't finished.

4. Q: ? A: No, he has not been working here.

5. Q: ? A: No, he could not have said that.

6. Q: ? A: No, he would not have been angry.

7. Q: ? A: Yes, a visa must be obtained first.

8. Q: ? A: Yes, we shall attend.

Answers

1. Was she going to visit?

2. Is your name being called?

3. Haven't they finished?

4. Has he not been working here?

5. Could he not have said that?

6. Would he not have been angry?

7. Must a visa be obtained first?

8. Shall we attend?

3. Creating Yes/No Questions without the BE Verb or an Auxiliary/Modal Verb (Use Do!)

So far, we have focused on constructing questions from sentences containing the BE verb or a helping (auxiliary/modal) verb. However, sentences may exist without either. In such cases, we introduce the verb 'Do'! 'Do' functions as another helping verb added to form questions when there is no auxiliary verb or BE Verb present.

Exercise #5: Yes/No Questions without Helping or BE Verb

1. He reads every day. →

2. The printer broke. →

3. We want more money. →

4. She had a smile on her face. →

5. The boss noticed the mistake. →

Answers

1. Do you read every day?

2. Did the printer break?

3. Do we want more money?

4. Did she have a smile on her face?

5. Did the boss notice the mistake?

Exercise #6: Yes/No Questions without a Helping or BE Verb

1. Q: ? A: Yes, she had her camera.

2. Q: ? A: No, I didn't feel sick.

3. Q: ? A: Yes, we eat beef.

4. Q: ? A: Yes, I believe you.

5. Q: ? A: No, they didn't forget their tickets.

Answers

1. Did she have her camera?

2. Did you feel sick?

3. Do we eat beef?

4. Do I believe you?

5. Did they forget their tickets?

Forming Yes/No Questions: Summary

In summary, we have covered three fundamental rules for crafting Yes/No questions:

1. If the sentence contains only the BE verb, switch the subject and the BE verb to make a question.

2. If the sentence includes a helping verb, switch the subject and the (first) helping verb to create a question.

3. If there is neither the BE verb nor a helping verb, add 'Do' and then the subject to make a question.

Exercise: Yes/No Questions

Part A: Use the BE Verb

1. The cat is sleeping.

• Question:

1. We were at the party.

• Question:

1. She is a doctor.

• Question:

1. It was raining.

• Question:

1. They are happy.

• Question:

Part B: Use Auxiliary/Modal Verbs

1. John can play the guitar.

• Question:

1. You will finish the project.

• Question:

1. She has completed the assignment.

• Question:

1. We were invited to the event.

• Question:

1. It might snow tomorrow.

• Question:

Part C: Use 'Do'

1. I eat vegetables every day.

• Question:

1. He read the book last night.

• Question:

1. They want to go to the beach.

• Question:

1. She believes in ghosts.

• Question:

1. We had a great time at the concert.

• Question:

Answers

Part A: Use the BE Verb

1. Is the cat sleeping?

2. Were you at the party?

3. Is she a doctor?

4. Was it raining?

5. Are they happy?

Part B: Use Auxiliary/Modal Verbs

1. Can John play the guitar?

2. Will you finish the project?

3. Has she completed the assignment?

4. Were we invited to the event?

5. Might it snow tomorrow?

Part C: Use 'Do'

1. Do I eat vegetables every day?

2. Did he read the book last night?

3. Do they want to go to the beach?

4. Does she believe in ghosts?

5. Did we have a great time at the concert?

Correction

Identify the errors in each Yes/No question and provide the corrected version.

Correction Exercise: Yes/No Questions

1. Do she can speak French?

2. Was you at the meeting yesterday?

3. Can't he doesn't swim very well?

4. Are they knows about the surprise party?

5. Does it is going to rain later?

6. Have she likes the new restaurant?

7. Did you ever visited London?

8. Do they are coming to the wedding?

9. Is he have enough time to finish the project?

10. Has she don't like spicy food?

11. Are you are planning a vacation?

12. Does it will snow in the winter?

13. Was they have a good time at the concert?

14. Can he do plays the guitar?

15. Did she will be at the party?

16. Do you have saw that movie before?

17. Are it going to be sunny tomorrow?

18. Have they didn't invited you?

19. Was he knows the answer to the question?

20. Does she can fix the computer?

21. Do they will arrive on time?

22. Is it will take long to get there?

23. Did you went to the store?

24. Are they did their homework already?

25. Have she ever been to Asia?

26. Was you feeling sick yesterday?

27. Can't he has some spare change?

28. Does it is a good idea to start a business?

29. Do she will come to the party?

30. Did they will buy a new car?

Answers

1. Does she speak French?

2. Were you at the meeting yesterday?

3. Can't he swim very well?

4. Do they know about the surprise party?

5. Is it going to rain later?

6. Does she like the new restaurant?

7. Did you ever visit London?

8. Are they coming to the wedding?

9. Does he have enough time to finish the project?

10. Does she like spicy food?

11. Are you planning a vacation?

12. Will it snow in the winter?

13. Did they have a good time at the concert?

14. Can he play the guitar?

15. Will she be at the party?

16. Have you seen that movie before?

17. Is it going to be sunny tomorrow?

18. Were they invited you?

19. Did he know the answer to the question?

20. Can she fix the computer?

21. Will they arrive on time?

22. Will it take long to get there?

23. Did you go to the store?

24. Did they do their homework already?

25. Has she ever been to Asia?

26. Were you feeling sick yesterday?

27. Can he spare some change?

28. Is it a good idea to start a business?

29. Will she come to the party?

30. Will they buy a new car?

Correction Exercise: Advanced Yes/No Questions

1. Will she have been finished the project by next week?

2. Did he can speak three languages fluently?

3. Are they were working on the assignment all night?

4. Have you must attend the meeting tomorrow?

5. Is it possible that they will can solve the problem?

6. Was she going to had completed the task?

7. Do they will have enough resources to finish the construction?

8. Did you ever had been to a foreign country?

9. Has he could solve the complex mathematical problem?

10. Are you going to had finished reading the book by next month?

11. Does it was raining when you left?

12. Will they are going to win the competition?

13. Have she been visited the art gallery?

14. Is it possible that he will had misunderstood the instructions?

15. Did you have met the famous author before?

16. Do they have seen that movie yet?

17. Was it known that they would had achieved such success?

18. Can he been able to swim across the river?

19. Is she will have achieved her goals by the end of the year?

20. Have you ever had traveled to Antarctica?

21. Were they will be ready for the presentation?

22. Does it had been raining heavily last night?

23. Did she will have completed the marathon?

24. Has he ever have had a chance to meet the president?

25. Will it be expected that you will attend the conference?

26. Have they can solve the puzzle?

27. Is it known whether she has been arriving on time?

28. Did you ever been invited to a prestigious event?

29. Are they have been preparing for the exam?

30. Do she have finished reading the entire series?

Answers

1. Will she have finished the project by next week?

2. Can he speak three languages fluently?

3. Were they working on the assignment all night?

4. Must you attend the meeting tomorrow?

5. Is it possible that they can solve the problem?

6. Was she going to complete the task?

7. Will they have enough resources to finish the construction?

8. Have you ever been to a foreign country?

9. Could he solve the complex mathematical problem?

10. Will you have finished reading the book by next month?

11. Was it raining when you left?

12. Are they going to win the competition?

13. Has she ever visited the art gallery?

14. Is it possible that he misunderstood the instructions?

15. Have you met the famous author before?

16. Have they seen that movie yet?

17. Was it known that they would achieve such success?

18. Could he swim across the river?

19. Will she have achieved her goals by the end of the year?

20. Have you ever traveled to Antarctica?

21. Will they be ready for the presentation?

22. Did it rain heavily last night?

23. Will she have completed the marathon?

24. Has he ever had a chance to meet the president?

25. Is it expected that you will attend the conference?

26. Can they solve the puzzle?

27. Is it known whether she will arrive on time?

28. Have you ever been invited to a prestigious event?

29. Have they been preparing for the exam?

30. Has she finished reading the entire series?