for English Language Learners (ELL) – those learning to speak English as a Second Language (ESL), or English as an Additional Language (EAL)

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The Verb BE – Asking Questions

There are two categories of questions.

1. Yes/No Questions

2. Information Questions

Lesson 5 – Asking Yes/No Questions

To ask a Yes/No Question using the verb be, “flip” the order of the subject and the verb from what they are in statements.

For example:

STATEMENT

You are Canadian.

YES/NO QUESTION

Are you Canadian?

REMEMBER: If you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary or use Google Translate.

VERB (BE) – YES/NO QUESTIONS

Basic Question Structure Using the Verb (be)

VERB (be) + SUBJECT (pronoun) + [proper noun, or adjective]

1st person – singular

Am I late?

1st person – plural

Are we early?

2nd person – singular or plural

Are you Canadian?

3rd person – singular

Is he | she | it nice?

3rd person – plural

Are they ready?

TEST YOURSELF

TEST YOURSELF

PRONUNCIATION TIP

In spoken English:

• for a YES/NO question the voice goes UP in pitch (rises) at the end of the question
• for an INFORMATION question the voice goes DOWN in pitch (drops) at the end of the question