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.

Requesting: Can/Could you write the address down for me, please?

Offering: Can I carry something for you? ~ No, it's OK, thanks.

Inviting: Would you like to come to a party?- Yes, I'd love to.

Asking permission: May I use your phone? ~ Yes, of course.

Making a suggestion: Shall we eat out tonight?

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.

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?

NOT Liked you the concert?

The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed.

NOT Does Mark plays golf?

NOT Did you liked the concert?