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.