Foundation grammar · Unit 2 · A1

am/is/are (questions)

Present

To make a question with am, is or are, put the verb before the subject. This unit also covers question words and short answers.

Go to the exercises

A Making the question

positive question
I am am I?
he / she / it is is he? is she? is it?
we / you / they are are we? are you? are they?

The verb changes places with the subject. Nothing else moves.

We say Is your sister at home? (not Is at home your sister?) and Are they cheap? or Are your boots cheap? (not Are cheap your boots?).

  • "What's your name?" "Rhiannon."
  • "Are you married?" "No, I'm not."
  • "How old are you?" "Twenty-eight."
  • "Am I in the right queue?" "Yes, you are."
  • "Is your dad at work?" "No, he's at home today."
  • "Are your neighbours friendly?" "Not really."
  • "Is it far to the station?" "No, five minutes."
  • Your boots are lovely. Are they new?

B Where ... ? What ... ? Who ... ? How ... ? Why ... ?

Put the question word first, then am/is/are, then the subject.

In speech these short forms are normal: what's = what is, who's = who is, how's = how is, where's = where is.

  • Where is your brother? Is he still in bed?
  • "What colour is your front door?" "Blue."
  • How are your grandparents? Are they keeping well?
  • "How much are these apples?" "Two pounds a bag."
  • "Where are you from?" "Leeds."
  • "How old is your daughter?" "She's six."
  • Why are you so quiet today?
  • What's the weather like?
  • Who's that woman in the red coat?
  • Where's the remote?
  • How's your new job?

C Short answers

Yes No
Yes, I am. No, I'm not.
Yes, he / she / it is. No, he's / she's / it's not. or No, he / she / it isn't.
Yes, we / you / they are. No, we're / you're / they're not. or No, we / you / they aren't.

In a positive short answer we do not use the short form. Say Yes, I am (not Yes, I'm).

  • "Are you cold?" "Yes, I am."
  • "Are you tired?" "No, I'm not, but I'm hungry."
  • "Is your mum Scottish?" "Yes, she is."
  • "Are these your gloves?" "Yes, they are."
  • "Is this the last bus?" "No, it isn't."

Exercises

2.1 Find the right answer for each question.

  1. Cardiff.
  2. No, I'm not.
  3. Yes, you are.
  4. My cousin.
  5. Green.
  6. No, it's red.
  7. On the table.
  8. No, he's Irish.
  9. Fine, thanks.

  1. Where's my phone?G

    Where's my phone? On the table.

  2. Is your bike black?

  3. Is Sean from Glasgow?

  4. Am I too early?

  5. Where's Megan from?

  6. What colour is your car?

  7. Are you thirsty?

  8. How is your mum?

  9. Who's that boy?

2.2 Make questions with these words. Use is or are.

  1. (at work / your father?)

    Is your father at work?

    Is your father at work?

  2. (your friends / happy?)

    Are your friends happy?

    Are your friends happy?

  3. (expensive / this hotel?)

  4. (the library / open on Sunday?)

  5. (interested in history / you?)

  6. (near here / the chemist's?)

  7. (in the garden / your dogs?)

  8. (why / she / angry?)

2.3 Complete the questions. Use What ... , Who ... , Where ... or How ... . The answer is after each question.

  1. How are your grandparents? (They're both very well.)

    How are your grandparents? They're both very well.

  2. the post office? (Next to the bank.)

  3. your nephews? (Four and seven.)

  4. these tomatoes? (Ninety pence a pound.)

  5. your favourite programme? (The news.)

  6. the girl next to you in this picture? (That's my sister.)

  7. your new curtains? (Yellow.)

2.4 Read the answers first. Then write the questions. You are talking to Callum.

  1. (name?) Callum.

    What's your name?

    What's your name?

  2. (married or single?) I'm married.

  3. (English?) No, I'm Scottish.

  4. (how old?) I'm 41.

  5. (a farmer?) No, I'm an electrician.

  6. (wife an electrician?) No, she's a teacher.

  7. (from?) She's from Belfast.

  8. (her name?) Fiona.

  9. (how old?) She's 39.

2.5 Write true short answers (Yes, I am. No, he isn't. and so on).

  1. Are you a student?

    Yes, I am.

    No, I'm not.

  2. Are you hungry?

  3. Is it windy today?

  4. Are your feet warm?

  5. Is it late now?

  6. Are you a doctor?

See also