short answers

Lecture No.8
Short answers, e.g. yes, it is.
A. Answering yes or no.
Look at the answers to these questions.
Is it raining? ~ Yes. Are we going to be late? ~ Yes, we are.
Did you say something? ~ No. Did you finish the crossword? ~ No, I didn t.
We can sometimes answer a question with a simple yes or no, but we often use a short answer like No, I didn t. We usually put a comma after yes or no.
We do not normally use a full sentence, but we can do if we want to add emphasis to the answer.
Did you open my letter? ~ No, I didn t open your letter.
Sometimes, to be polite, we may need to add information .
Did you get the tickets? ~ No, I didn t. There wasn t time, I m afraid. Sorry .
Question short answer
Auxiliary pronoun auxiliary
Are you working tomorrow? ~ Yes, I am .
Has Emma got a computer? ~ Yes, she has .
Will I need my passport? ~ Yes, you will .
Did they repair your phone? ~ Yes, they did .
We can also use the main verb be in a short answer.
Is it time to go? ~ Yes, it is. It s ten past eleven.
Note that in the present simple and past simple we use a form of do. Do you like classical music? ~ Yes, I do. NOT YES I LIKE.
A negative short answer is no + a pronoun + an auxiliary + n t .
QUESTION SHORT ANSWER
Auxiliary Pronoun Auxiliat
Is the photocopier working now? ~ No, it isn t .
Have the children gone to sleep? ~ No, they haven t .
14
Will there be food at the party? ~ No, there won t .
Does this train stop at Derby? ~ No, it doesn t .
But note No, I m not.
Are you working tomorrow? ~ No, I m not. NOT No-,-I-amn t .
C. Answering requests, suggestions, offers and invitations
To answer a request, suggestion, etc, we normally use a phrase like Yes, of course or Yes, please rather than a short answer. If we answer in the negative, we have to give some explanation .
Request: Could you help me move these chairs, please? ~ Yes, of course. OR I m afraid I m rather busy.
Suggestion: Shall we have a coffee? ~ Yes, OK. OR Sorry, I can t. I have to go .
Offer: Can I give you a hand? ~ Yes, please. That s very kind of you. OR It s OK, thanks. I can manage.
Invitation: Would you like to come to the barbecue? ~ Yes, please. I d love to. OR I d love to, but I ll be away.
Short negative answers would sound strange or impolite here.
Exercises
It s eleven o clock, and everyone has arrived at a party. Put in the short answers.
? Have you got a drink? ~ Yes, I have, thank you. I ve just put it down somewhere .
1.Can you speak Arabic? ~ ......................................... , but not very well.
2.Is it raining outside? ~................................................. It s just started .
3.Has David come with you? ~ ......................................... . He s in hospital, actually .
4.Did you come by car, Tom? ~ .................................................It took ages because of all the traffic .
5.Are those people over there your friends? ~..................................... .1 don t know them at all.
6.Do you like England? ~................................................. -I m enjoying my stay here .
7.Is your brother here? ~ ................................................. He s away on business at the moment .
8.Have you seen Nick recently? ~.................................................I think he s moved away .
15
It s one o clock in the morning, and the party is in full swing .
People are still talking. Put in the short answers .
? Are you French? ~ No, I m not. I m Italian. I m from Milan .
1.Will you and Laura be here in August? ~................................................. We re going to France.
2.Did you remember to bring the photos? ~ ................................................ I ll give them to you in a minute .
3.Has Rita broken up with her boyfriend? ~................................................. It s all over, she told me .
4.Did you see that documentary about the ozone layer on television last night ?
.........................................I was working late, unfortunately
5.Does Laura like these old songs? ~ ............................................. She loves Elvis Presley .
6.Are you and Mike staying the night here? ~ ................................................ We have to get home tonight .
7.Can we afford a taxi? ~ .................................................It s quite a long way .
8.Are you OK, Vicky? ~................................................. I feel really awful .
Which would normally be the best answer ?
? Are you busy today ?
a) Yes, busy, b) Yes, I am .
1.Is it too hot in here for you ?
a) No, it isn t, b) No, I m fine, thanks .
2.Do you know Emma?
a) Yes. b) Yes, we live in the same building .
3.Tell me, did you steal my money?
a) No. b) No, I didn t steal your money .
4.Do you live on the campus ?
a) Yes, I do. b) Yes, I live on it .
5.Would you like to come out with us for the day ?
16
a) Yes, I would like, b) Yes, please.
6.Is it the eighteenth today ?
a) Yes, it is. b) Yes, it is the eighteenth of November today.
7.Did you bring my CD ?
a) No. b) No, sorry. I forgot it .
8.Can I carry your bags ?
a) No, you can t, b) It s all right, thanks .
17