Short Answers - To Be

Present Tense

Short Answers with To Be

With To Be it is possible to give a short answer or a long answer to a question in English though in casual conversation, short answers are much more common than long answers. Long answers are for more formal conversations or if you want to give more information in your response.

In questions that use Is or Are it is possible to give short answers as follows:

Sample Questions	Short Answer (Affirmative)	Short Answer (Negative)
Am I late?	Yes, you are.	No, you aren't.
Are you tired?	Yes, I am.	No, I'm not.
Are you both happy?	Yes, we are.	No, we aren't.
Are they thirsty?	Yes, they are.	No, they aren't.
Is he sick again?	Yes, he is.	No, he isn't.
Is she a good teacher?	Yes, she is.	No, she isn't.
Is it available?	Yes, it is.	No, it isn't.

Examples

Are you from Chile?
- Yes, I am. (= Yes, I am from Chile)
- No, I'm not. (= No, I am not from Chile)

Is he an engineer?
- Yes, he is. (= Yes, he is an engineer)
- No, he isn't. (= No, he isn't an engineer)

Try our interactive game to practice Short Answers - To Be - Present Tense

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Last Updated: 20 February 2009

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