yes, no questions

Lecture No.7
Yes/no questions
A. Use
A yes/no question is one that we can answer with yes or no.
Are you ready? ~ Yes, nearly/No, not quite.
Has anyone seen my bag? ~ Yes, it s on the chair./No, I don t think so.
These questions are asking for information. For example , Daniel wants to know if Vicky is ready or not.
Sometimes yes/no questions have other uses, especially questions with modal verbs. For example, when Matthew says Shall we go then? he is making a suggestion, not asking for
information. Here are some examples of the different uses .
Can/Could you write the address down for me, please ?
Can I carry something for you? ~ No , it s OK, thanks .
Would you like to come to a party ? Yes, I d love to .
May I use your phone? ~ Yes, of COURSE.
B. Form
A yes/no question begins with an auxiliary verb. An auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or a modal verb e.g. can. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject .
Auxiliary subject
Is it raining ? Has David got a car ? Can Emma drive ?
STATEMENT: It is raining.
QUESTION: IS it raining ?
The main verb be also comes before the subject in a question.
Is it cold out there? Are you ready? Was it easy? If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject .
Have you been working? Could we have done better ?
In the present simple and past simple we use a form of do .

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AUXILIARY SUBJECT
Do the buses run every day ? Does Mark play golf ? Did you like the concert ?
STATEMENT: They (do) run every day.
QUESTION: Do they run every day ?
A question cannot begin with an ordinary verb such as run, play or like.
NOT Plays-Mark-golf? and NOT Liked your the-concert ?
The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed .
NOT Does-Mark plays-golf? and NOT Did you-liked-the-concert ?
Exercises
Write down the use of each question. Choose from these uses:
asking for information (x3), asking permission, inviting, making a suggestion, offering, requesting (x2 ).
Could you post this letter for me? requesting
Can we get a number 35 bus from this stop? asking for information
1.Can I help you with those bags ?
2.Shall we stop for a rest ?
3.Is it Tuesday today ?
4.Could you wait a moment, please ?
5.Would you like to have tea with us ?
6.Will your friend be here next weekend ?
7.May I sit down ?

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