Yes/No Questions in English: Learn to Ask and Answer Confidently!
- Rose Sensei
- Nov 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 19
Do you ever pause when someone asks, “Are you ready?” or “Did you go?”
These are called Yes/No Questions — and they’re one of the simplest ways to start real conversations in English.
In this post, you’ll learn how to form and answer Yes/No questions naturally using be, have, will, could, should, do, does, and did.
What Are Yes/No Questions?
Yes/No questions are questions that can be answered simply with Yes or No.
They don’t start with WH-words like what, where, or why.
Instead, they begin with a helping verb (auxiliary) such as be, have, do, will, could, or should.
👉 Example:
Are you tired? → Yes, I am.
Did she call you? → No, she didn’t.
🧭 Yes/No Question Reference Table
Auxiliary Verb | Use / Meaning | Structure | Example Question | Possible Answer |
am / is / are | Present tense of be | Am / Is / Are + Subject + Complement? | Are you ready for class? | Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. |
was / were | Past tense of be | Was / Were + Subject + Complement? | Were you at home yesterday? | Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t. |
have / has | Present perfect | Have / Has + Subject + Past Participle? | Have you eaten breakfast? | Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t. |
will | Future tense | Will + Subject + Verb (base)? | Will it rain tomorrow? | Yes, it will. / No, it won’t. |
could | Polite request / possibility | Could + Subject + Verb (base)? | Could you help me, please? | Sure! / Sorry, I can’t. |
should | Advice / suggestion | Should + Subject + Verb (base)? | Should I call her now? | Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn’t. |
do / does | Present simple | Do / Does + Subject + Verb (base)? | Do you like coffee? | Yes, I do. / No, I don’t. |
did | Past simple | Did + Subject + Verb (base)? | Did they travel last week? | Yes, they did. / No, they didn’t. |
📥 Download the free Quick Guide here (PDF)
🗣️ Real-Life Practice Dialogues
At a Café
Sara: Are you free this evening?
Mina: Yes, I am. Why?
Sara: Great! Shall we grab dinner?
At Work
Boss: Have you sent the report?
Emma: Not yet — I’ll do it soon.
At Home
Lily: Could you pass me the salt, please?
Ben: Of course!
🪄 Tip:
Read these aloud or act them out with a friend — it’s great pronunciation practice!
💡 Grammar Tip
In Yes/No questions, the auxiliary verb always comes before the subject.
❌ You are tired? → ✅ Are you tired?
❌ You did go? → ✅ Did you go?
🧠 Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | 💬 Why |
You are tired? | Are you tired? | The verb “be” comes before the subject in questions. |
Do you can help me? | Could you help me? / Can you help me? | “Do” is not used with modal verbs. |
You did go? | Did you go? | Use “Did” before the subject in past questions. |
🪄 Quick Quiz – Test Yourself
Fill in the missing auxiliary verbs:
___ you tired last night?
___ she like sushi?
___ we go by taxi?
___ they finished the project?
___ you call me later?
✅ Answers:
Were 2. Does 3. Should 4. Have 5.Will
💬 Share your score in the comments!
🎧 Listen & Learn
🎥 Coming soon:
Watch our short video “Can You Answer These Yes/No Questions?”
🎬 Related playlist: Grammar Made Simple – English Tenses & Questions
❤️ Wrap-Up
Now it’s your turn!
Think of three Yes/No questions you can use today — maybe about your plans, your hobbies, or your mood.
Share them in the comments below 👇
☕ Example: “Do you like rainy days?” — “Yes, I do. Perfect for coffee and a good book!”
📚Keep Learning
Continue exploring English grammar and question forms:
🔗 WH-Questions in English (Who, What, Where…)
Check out our YouTube Playlist:
🎥 Related Videos: YouTube Channel Playlist
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