BeginnerQuestions
Learn Yes/No Questions with Be and Do in English
Form and answer yes/no questions using be and do as auxiliaries.
- Learning goal
- Recognize and use this pattern in context.
- Practice
- 10 randomized questions with explanations.
- Suggested workflow
- Study the examples, then take the quiz.
Grammar Focus
Yes/no questions are questions that can be answered with a simple yes or a simple no. In English, you form them by moving the auxiliary verb to the front of the sentence — before the subject. The two most common auxiliaries for yes/no questions at the beginner level are be (am, is, are) and do/does.
- Use am / is / are to form yes/no questions when the verb in the sentence is a form of be: "Is she a teacher?"
- Use do / does to form yes/no questions when the main verb is any other verb: "Do you like coffee?"
- For he / she / it, use does — never do: "Does he live here?"
- In short answers, repeat the auxiliary — never use the main verb: "Yes, she is." / "No, he doesn't."
- Never use do / does with the verb be: "Are you tired?" not "Do you be tired?"
Form & Structure
Yes/No Questions with Be
Am/Is/Are + subject + complement?
Am I in the right room?
Is she your sister?
Are they ready to start?
Yes/No Questions with Do/Does
Do/Does + subject + base verb?
Do you enjoy cooking?
Does he speak French?
Do they live near the school?
Short Answers
Yes, + subject + am/is/are/do/does | No, + subject + am not/isn't/aren't/don't/doesn't
"Is she a doctor?" — "Yes, she is." / "No, she isn't.
"Are you tired?" — "Yes, I am." / "No, I'm not.
"Does he play tennis?" — "Yes, he does." / "No, he doesn't."
Common Mistakes
Using do/does with the verb be
Do you be happy?
Are you happy?
Tip: Never use do or does with the verb be. Move am, is, or are directly to the front of the question.
Forgetting to use does for he/she/it with do-questions
Do she like music?
Does she like music?
Tip: When the subject is he, she, or it, you must use does — not do — to form the question.
Adding -s to the main verb after does
Does he works here?
Does he work here?
Tip: After does, always use the base form of the verb. The -s ending moves to does, not the main verb.
Why This Grammar Matters
Meeting someone new
“Are you from around here?”
“Do you speak any other languages?”
At a job interview
“Are you available to start immediately?”
“Does this role match your experience?”
Making plans with friends
“Is the café open on Sundays?”
“Do you want to come to the party?”
Checking information
“Is this the right bus for the city centre?”
“Does this train stop at the airport?”