English — Short answers

In English you rarely answer a yes/no question with a full sentence. You reply with the subject plus the auxiliary from the question: Yes, I do / No, she isn't / Yes, they can.

How it works

✓ Rule

Repeat the same auxiliary the question used (do/does, is/are, can, have), with the pronoun subject. Positive short answers keep the auxiliary full (Yes, I am); negative ones usually contract it (No, I'm not / No, they don't). Never add the main verb: say Yes, I do, not Yes, I do like.

Examples

Question auxiliary matched in the answer
Question	Short answer
Do you like tea?	Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Does she work here?	Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
Are you ready?	Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Is he your brother?	Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
Can they swim?	Yes, they can. / No, they can't.
Have you finished?	Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
Will it rain?	Yes, it will. / No, it won't.
Was the film good?	Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't.

Good to know

⚠ Note

A positive short answer is not contracted: say Yes, I am, not Yes, I'm. With I am, the usual negative short answer is No, I'm not. Amn't occurs in Irish and Scottish English but not in most other standard varieties. Also, don't answer with the wrong auxiliary — reply to Do you…? with do, not with a form of be.