Yes/No Questions helps you communicate about confirming facts, states, actions and possibilities. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can form yes/no questions with be, auxiliaries and modal verbs.
- Recognise and build the form: auxiliary/be/modal + subject + complement.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Yes/No Questions for confirming facts, states, actions and possibilities. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
Are you ready?
Invert the verb 'are' and subject 'you' to form the question.
Does she work here?
Use 'Does + subject + base verb' in the present simple.
Did they finish the report yesterday?
Use 'Did + subject + base verb' for a past-simple question.
auxiliary/be/modal + subject + complementKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- Invert the verb 'are' and subject 'you' to form the question.
- Use 'Does + subject + base verb' in the present simple.
- Use 'Did + subject + base verb' for a past-simple question.
- Use 'Have + subject + past participle' in the present perfect.
- Use 'Was + subject + verb-ing' in the past continuous.
Common mistakes
Not:Do you ready?
Use:Are you ready?
Invert the verb 'are' and subject 'you' to form the question.
Not:Do she work here?
Use:Does she work here?
Use 'Does + subject + base verb' in the present simple.
Not:Do they finish the report yesterday?
Use:Did they finish the report yesterday?
Use 'Did + subject + base verb' for a past-simple question.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
____ you ever visited Japan?
Have
Use 'Have + subject + past participle' in the present perfect.
____ he sleeping when you called?
Was
Use 'Was + subject + verb-ing' in the past continuous.
____ I open the window?
May
Use a modal before the subject to ask permission.