Short answers are normally constructed with subject and auxiliary verb. Other words in the question are usually omitted in short answers.
In affirmative short answers, we use stressed, non-contracted forms.
- ‘Are you happy?’ ‘Yes, I am.’ (NOT Yes, I’m.)
In negative short answers, we usually use contracted forms.
Examples are given below:
- were not – weren’t
- cannot – can’t
- will not – won’t
- are not – aren’t
Exercise
Read the questions given below and write appropriate short answers in the space provided against them.
1‘Have you got a light?’ ‘Yes, ...............’
Wrong!
2‘Do you know the answer?’ ‘No, ...............’
Wrong!
3‘Will you give me a hand?’ ‘Yes, ...............’
Wrong!
4‘Can you help me with the homework?’ ‘No, ...............’
Wrong!
5‘Can I borrow your car?’ ‘No, ...............’
Wrong!
6‘Was the film interesting?’ ‘Yes, ...............’
Wrong!
7‘Does she like flowers?’ ‘Yes, ...............’
Wrong!
8‘Can I use your computer?’ ‘Yes, ...............’
Wrong!
9‘Should we tell her?’ ‘No, ...............’
Wrong!
10‘Should I wait?’ ‘No, ...............’
Wrong!
Done.
Score: 0/10
Answers
- ‘Have you got a light?’ ‘Yes, I have’
- ‘Do you know the answer?’ ‘No, I don’t’
- ‘Will you give me a hand?’ ‘Yes, I will’
- ‘Can you help me with the homework?’ ‘No, I can’t’
- ‘Can I borrow your car?’ ‘No, you can’t’
- ‘Was the film interesting?’ ‘Yes, it was’
- ‘Does she like flowers?’ ‘Yes, she does’
- ‘Can I use your computer?’ ‘Yes, you can’
- ‘Should we tell her?’ ‘No, we shouldn’t’
- ‘Should I wait?’ ‘No, you shouldn’t’
