What are Yes/No Questions?

A Yes/No question is a type of question that expects a simple "Yes" or "No" answer. These questions usually begin with an auxiliary (helping) verb.

How to Form Yes/No Questions

The structure depends on the verb in the sentence.

1. With "be" verbs (is, am, are, was, were)

Simply move the "be" verb to the beginning of the sentence.

Structure: Is/Am/Are/Was/Were + Subject + ?

Are you happy?
Is he your brother?
Was she sick yesterday?

2. With Action Verbs (Present & Past Simple)

Add the auxiliary verb "do," "does," or "did" at the beginning.

Structure: Do/Does/Did + Subject + Base Verb + ?

Do you play cricket? (Use "do" for I/you/we/they)
Does she like chocolate? (Use "does" for he/she/it)
Did they go to school? (Use "did" for all past tense)

3. With Other Helping Verbs (have, will, can, etc.)

Move the first helping verb to the beginning of the sentence.

Structure: Helping Verb + Subject + ...?

Have you finished your work?
Will you come tomorrow?
Can you swim?

Short Answers

When answering Yes/No questions, it's common to use short answers that repeat the auxiliary verb.

Question	Yes Answer	No Answer
Do you like tea?	Yes, I do.	No, I don’t.
Is she your sister?	Yes, she is.	No, she isn’t.
Will they come?	Yes, they will.	No, they won’t.
Has he arrived?	Yes, he has.	No, he hasn’t.

Conclusion

Yes/No questions are very important in everyday English. Whether you’re having a conversation, asking politely, or seeking information — mastering these questions helps you communicate clearly. They are simple in form but widely used in real-life speaking and writing.