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?