What are Yes/No Questions?
A Yes/No question is a type of question that expects a simple answer — either “Yes” or “No”. These questions usually begin with helping (auxiliary) verbs like is, are, do, does, did, has, have, will, can, etc.
Example:
Are you a student? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Do you like tea? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Structure of Yes/No Questions
The basic structure depends on the tense and verb type (be verb, action verb, etc.).
1. Present Simple Tense (Using Do/Does)
Used when the main verb is an action verb (not be verbs).
Structure:
Do/Does + Subject + Base Verb + ?
Examples:
Do you play cricket? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Does she like chocolate? → Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
Note:
Use do with I, you, we, they
Use does with he, she, it
2. Be Verbs (is/am/are)
Used when the main verb is is, am, are.
Structure:
Is/Am/Are + Subject + ?
Examples:
Are you happy? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Is he your brother? → Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
Note:
Use am with I
Use is with he, she, it
Use are with you, we, they
3. Past Simple Tense (Using Did/Was/Were)
A. Action Verbs – Use Did
Structure:
Did + Subject + Base Verb + ?
Examples:
Did you go to school? → Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
Did she watch the movie? → Yes, she did. / No, she didn’t.
Note: Always use the base verb after did, not V2.
B. Be Verbs – Use Was/Were
Structure:
Was/Were + Subject + ?
Examples:
Was he sick? → Yes, he was. / No, he wasn’t.
Were they late? → Yes, they were. / No, they weren’t.
4. Future Tense (Using Will)
Structure:
Will + Subject + Base Verb + ?
Examples:
Will you come tomorrow? → Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.
Will it rain today? → Yes, it will. / No, it won’t.
5. Perfect Tenses (Using Has/Have/Had)
Present Perfect:
Has/Have + Subject + Past Participle (V3) + ?
Have you finished your work?
Has he eaten lunch?
Past Perfect:
Had + Subject + V3 + ?
Had she left before you arrived?
6. Modal Verbs in Yes/No Questions
Structure:
Modal Verb (can, could, will, would, should, must) + Subject + Base Verb + ?
Examples:
Can you swim?
Should I call her now?
Would you help me?
Short Answers for Yes/No Questions
| Question | Yes Answer | No Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Do you like tea? | Yes, I do. | No, I don’t. |
| Is she your sister? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn’t. |
| Will they come? | Yes, they will. | No, they won’t. |
| Has he arrived? | Yes, he has. | No, he hasn’t. |
Practice Examples:
Convert into Yes/No questions:
You are a teacher. → Are you a teacher?
He plays guitar. → Does he play guitar?
They went home. → Did they go home?
She is coming now. → Is she coming now?
We can meet later. → Can we meet later?
Conclusion:
Yes/No questions are very important in everyday English. Whether you’re having a conversation, asking politely, or seeking information — mastering these questions helps you communicate clearly. They are simple in form but widely used in real-life speaking and writing.