Grammar
Short answers: agree, disagree, and respond naturally
Do you work on Saturdays? Yes, I do. The answer is short, but do carries the meaning of work. Listen for the first verb in the question, then use it again in your answer.
Give a natural short answer by using the same helping verb or modal as the question and the correct pronoun.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Yes, I do. /jes aɪ duː/
The short answer
Use the same helping verb or modal from the question, with the right pronoun. Answer Do you like coffee? with Yes, I do or No, I don't. Answer Can Maya come? with Yes, she can or No, she can't.
Are your keys in the bag? Yes, they are.
Why it works: The question uses are, so the short answer uses are. Keys becomes the pronoun they.
5 more examples
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Do you need a receipt? Yes, I do.
The question begins with do, so the answer uses do with I.
Not this:Do you need a receipt?
No, I don't. What changes: The negative answer uses don't because the question uses do. -
Is the bus late? Yes, it is.
The question uses is, so the answer uses is. Bus becomes it.
Not this:Is the bus late?
No, it isn't. What changes: Isn't is the negative form of is in this answer. -
Has Omar finished his lunch? Yes, he has.
The question uses has, so the answer repeats has with he.
Not this:Has Omar finished his lunch?
No, he hasn't. What changes: Hasn't is the negative form that matches has. -
Can you meet us later? Yes, I can.
Can is a modal, so it stays can in the short answer.
Not this:Can you meet us later?
No, I can't. What changes: Can't is the negative form that matches can. -
I like quiet cafés. So do I.
So do I agrees with a positive statement that uses the present simple.
Not this:I don't like crowded cafés.
Neither do I. What changes: Neither do I agrees with a negative present simple statement.
Read the full guide
First, listen for the verb at the start of the question. Is, are, and was are forms of be. Do, does, and did help make questions about actions. Can, will, and should are modals. Use that same word in your short answer, then choose the pronoun that replaces the person or thing.
Use the verb from the question
A short answer normally repeats the helping verb or modal from the question. Listen to the first verb. Do you work here? starts with do, so answer with do or don't. Can you help? starts with can, so answer with can or can't.
Do they live nearby? Yes, they do.
Do in the answer matches do in the question.
Will she call later? No, she won't.
Won't is the negative form that matches will.
Which verb completes the answer: Can you stay? Yes, I ___.
Use can: Yes, I can.
Choose the right pronoun
Replace the person or thing with a pronoun. Use I when you answer about yourself, you for the listener, he or she for one person, it for one thing, and they for more than one person or thing. The pronoun comes before the verb in a short answer.
Is Maria at home? Yes, she is.
Maria becomes she in the answer.
Are the shops open? No, they aren't.
Shops is plural, so it becomes they.
Which pronoun completes the answer: Is the phone charged? Yes, ___ is.
Use it: Yes, it is.
Answer yes and no questions
Use a positive verb after yes and a negative verb after no. Say Yes, we are or No, we aren't. The same pattern works with do, have, and modals. The short answer is polite and natural when the question only needs a yes or no response.
Are you ready? Yes, I am.
Yes takes the positive form am.
Are you ready? No, I am not.
No takes the negative form am not.
How do you answer No to Have they arrived?
Say No, they haven't.
Match do, does, and did
Use do and don't with I, you, we, and they in the present. Use does and doesn't with he, she, and it. Use did and didn't for past questions with all subjects. Do, does, and did carry the time, so do not repeat the main verb in a short answer.
Does your brother drive? Yes, he does.
Brother becomes he, and does matches the present question.
Did you enjoy the film? No, I didn't.
Didn't matches did and shows a past negative answer.
Which answer fits Does the train stop here?
Say Yes, it does or No, it doesn't.
Agree with a statement
To agree with a positive statement, use So, then the helping verb or modal, then the pronoun. I am tired. So am I. They can swim. So can we. With an ordinary present or past action, use do or did: I called her. So did I.
I am early today. So am I.
So am I agrees with the positive statement using am.
We like this park. So do they.
So do they agrees with a positive present simple statement.
How can you agree with I can cook?
Say So can I.
Agree or disagree with a negative statement
To agree with a negative statement, use Neither, then the helping verb or modal, then the pronoun. I don't watch much television. Neither do I. To disagree, give a calm positive answer: Oh, I do or Actually, I can. Your voice and the situation can make a short disagreement sound friendlier.
I can't stay late. Neither can I.
Neither can I agrees with the negative statement using can't.
I don't like tea. Oh, I do.
I do politely shows a different opinion.
How can you agree with We weren't late?
Say Neither was I or Neither were we, depending on the person you mean.
Before you go
Remember this
Listen for the helping verb or modal in the question and use it again in your short answer. Match the pronoun to the person or thing. Use a positive verb after yes and a negative verb after no. To agree with a statement, use So plus the verb for a positive statement and Neither plus the verb for a negative one.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Short answers: agree, disagree, and respond naturally"
What is a short answer in English?
A short answer is a brief complete reply that does not repeat the whole question. It usually uses yes or no, a pronoun, and a helping verb or modal. For example, Yes, I do is a short answer to a question beginning with do.
Do you need a receipt? Yes, I do.
Why do short answers use do, does, and did?
Do, does, and did carry the tense in questions about ordinary actions. Use the same word in the short answer: Do you work here? Yes, I do. Did she call? No, she didn't. You do not need to repeat the main action verb.
Do you need a receipt? No, I don't.
How do I answer a question with be?
Repeat the correct form of be and use a pronoun. For example, Is the room ready? Yes, it is. Are the children outside? No, they aren't. Match the form in the answer to the form in the question.
Is the bus late? Yes, it is.
How do I agree with a positive statement?
Use So plus the helping verb or modal and a pronoun. Say So do I after a positive present simple statement, So am I after a statement with am, and So can I after a statement with can. I do too is also common in conversation.
Is the bus late? No, it isn't.
How do I agree with a negative statement?
Use Neither plus the helping verb or modal and a pronoun. Say Neither do I after I don't, Neither can I after I can't, and Neither were we after We weren't. I don't either is also common in conversation.
Has Omar finished his lunch? Yes, he has.