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?