Short answers in English

Why do use short answers?

We do not use only Yes or No to answer a question. This is not polite. We use short answers. Here are some examples:

Yes/No question				Short answer
Is	he		from London?	Yes, No,	he he	is. isn't. *
Are	the boys		at your school?	Yes, No,	they they	are. aren't. *
Can	you	play	ice-hockey?	Yes, No,	I I	can. can't. *
Have	we	got	ketchup?	Yes, No,	we we	have. haven't. *
Has	she	got	a mobile phone?	Yes, No,	she she	has. hasn't. *
Do	they	live	in a flat?	Yes, No,	they they	do. don't. *
Does	he	work	in an office?	Yes, No,	he he	does. doesn't. *
Did	it	rain	yesterday?	Yes, No,	it it	did. didn't. *
Are	they	writing	a test now?	Yes, No,	they they	are. aren't. *
Have	you	been	to Scotland?	Yes, No,	I I	have. haven't. *
Has	she	been waiting	for long?	Yes, No,,	she she	has. hasn't. *
Is	he	going to see	his sister?	Yes, No,	he he	is. isn't. *
Will	we	arrive	on time?	Yes, No,	we we	will. won't. *

* Use long forms instead of contracted forms to emphasize your answer.

Do you like fish? – No, I do not.

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