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.

B Form

A positive short answer is yes + a pronoun + an auxiliary.

We can also use the main verb be in a short answer. 7s 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.

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.

35 Exercises

1 Form (B)

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.

2 Form (B)

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.

3 Answering questions (A-C)

Which would normally be the best answer?

► Are you busy today?

a) Yes, busy, b) V 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?
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.

36 Wh-questions

A Introduction

Reporter Kitty Beamish is interviewing some guerrilla fighters.

Kitty:

Why are you fighting?

What can you do for the people?

When will the war be over?

A wh-question begins with a question word. Question words are who, what, which, whose, where, when, why and how.

We use a wh-question to ask for information.

B Form

Most wh-questions begin with a question word + an auxiliary verb + the subject. (For another form of wh-question, see Unit 37.) An auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or a modal verb, e.g. can.

QUESTION WORD

What

Where

When

AUXILIARY

is

have

can

SUBJECT

Kitty

you

we

doing?

put the map?

travel safely?

The main verb be also comes before the subject in questions.

Where is Kitty? How are you? What was that noise? If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject.

The guerrillas have been hiding. Where have the guerrillas been hiding?

I should have said something. What should I have said?

In the present simple and past simple we use a form of do.

An ordinary verb such as meet, work or say cannot come before the subject.

not Where meet-people? and not How works-the-radio? The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed.

not How-does-the-radio-works? and not What did-the-guerrillas-said?

Question phrases

Look at these question phrases with what and how.

What time is your friend arriving? ~ Half past eight. What colour is your toothbrush? ~ Yellow. What kind of/What sort of club is it? ~ A nightclub. How old is your sister? ~ She's twenty. How often do you go out? ~ About once a week, usually. How far is the beach? ~ Only five minutes walk How long will the meeting last? ~ An hour or so, I expect. How many televisions have you got? ~ Three How much money did you spend? ~ About a hundred pounds.

36 Exercises

1 Wh-questions (A-B)

What would you say in these situations?

► You are talking to a man at a party. Ask him where he works. Where do you work?

1 You want to know what the date is today. Ask your friend.

2 You've forgotten when the course finishes. Ask your friend.

3 Your friend is having a party. You'd like to know who he has invited. Ask him.

4 Your favourite band are going to give a concert. Ask how you can get tickets.

5 You are in town with a friend, and you are wondering where the two of you are going to have lunch.
What do you ask?

2 Question words and phrases (A-C)

Quiz champion Claude Jennings is answering questions. Put in these words and phrases:
how far, how long, how often, how many, what, what colour, what kind, when, where, who
Quiz-master: Claude:

► What colour is the Greek flag? Blue and white.

1. is Melbourne? It's in Australia.

2. …………………….centimetres are there in a kilometre? A hundred thousand.

3. ……………………. did the Second World War end? In 1945.

4 …………................. did Romeo love? Juliet.

5 ………………......... is Sirius? It's a star.

6 ……………………..is it from Los Angeles to San Francisco? About 400 miles.

7 ……………......... are the Olympic Games held? Every four years.

8 ……………………of food is Cheddar? It's cheese.

9 …………............. is a game of rugby? Eighty minutes.

3 Wh-questions (A-C)

Guy is interviewing a guest on his chat show. It's the actress Melissa Livingstone, who is in the TV soap opera 'Round the Corner'. Put in Guy's questions.

► Guy: How often do you record 'Round the Corner'?

Melissa: Oh, we record it every day. It's a full-time job, you know.

1 Guy: And........................................................................................................ it?

Melissa: In Birmingham, at the BBC studios.

2 Guy: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Melissa: How many? Well, let me see, I think we've done a thousand programmes.

3 Guy: ………………………………………………………………………………..

Melissa: I'm not going to tell you. How much money I earn is my business.

4 Guy: OK, I'm sorry. ........................................................... …………….

Melissa: Oh, a long time ago. I started acting when I was twelve.

5 Guy: …………………………………………………………………………

Melissa: My plans for the future? I just want to go on with 'Round the Corner'.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2280