Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions

To form questions with the verb “be,” the verb and subject are inverted (switch places in the sentence):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am
Question – am I?

2nd person singular:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person singular:
Positive – he / she / it is
Question – is he / she / it?

1st person plural:
Positive – we are
Question – are we?

2nd person plural:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person plural:
Positive – they are
Question – are they?

The answer to these “be” questions should be either Yes or No.

Examples:

  • Am I late?
    • Yes (you are).
    • Yes (, the show started ten minutes ago).
  • Are you hungry?
    • Yes (I am).
    • Yes (, I haven’t eaten since breakfast).
  • Is it raining?
    • No (, it’s sunny).
  • Is he crazy?
    • No (, but he sure acts like it sometimes).
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No (, we still have a half hour before the train comes in).
  • Are you ready?
    • Yes (we are).
    • Yes (, let’s take the test now).
  • Are they home?
    • No (, the lights are off).

Short negative answers may be contracted, but positive ones may not be:

  • Am I late?
    • No / No, you aren’t / No, you’re not.
  • Are you hungry?
    • No / No, I’m not.
  • Is it raining?
    • No / No, it isn’t / No, it’s not.
  • Is he crazy?
    • No / No, he isn’t / No, he’s not.
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are you ready?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are they home?
    • No / No, they aren’t / No, they’re not.

Wh-questions use the verb “be,” but cannot use Yes/No for an answer:

  • Where is / Where’s the restaurant?
    • It’s next to the bank.
  • What is / What’s the time?
    • It’s two o’clock.
  • Who is / Who’s coming to the party?
    • John and Sally are.
  • How tall is Sam?
    • He’s six feet tall.
  • Why are you crying?
    • I lost my puppy.

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

Solutions tomorrow.

1. the homework / difficult?

2. John / sick?

3. baby / hungry?

4. you / cold?

5. I / sleepy?

6. she / a doctor?

7. we / late?

8. they / married?

9. where / my keys?

10. what / the temperature?

11. who / that man?

12. how / you?

13. why / you / sick?

14. how / old / he?

15. where / the dog?

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