Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 2 · A1

am/is/are (questions)

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

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 29 minutes

In this lesson

Making the questionA4 screens of questions
Where ... ? What ... ? Who ... ? How ... ? Why ... ?B2 screens of questions
Short answersC2 screens of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

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?

Point A · Exercise 2.1 · part 1 of 2

Find the right answer for each question.

Use these

  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. Example

    Where's my phone?

    G

    AnswerWhere'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?

Point A · Exercise 2.1 · part 2 of 2

Find the right answer for each question.

Use these

  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. What colour is your car?

  2. Are you thirsty?

  3. How is your mum?

  4. Who's that boy?

Point A · Exercise 2.2 · part 1 of 2

Make questions with these words. Use is or are.

  1. Example

    (at work / your father?)

    Is your father at work?

    AnswerIs your father at work?

  2. Example

    (your friends / happy?)

    Are your friends happy?

    AnswerAre your friends happy?

  3. (expensive / this hotel?)

  4. (the library / open on Sunday?)

  5. (interested in history / you?)

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

Point A · Exercise 2.2 · part 2 of 2

Make questions with these words. Use is or are.

  1. (in the garden / your dogs?)

  2. (why / she / angry?)

Point B of 3

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

The question word comes first. After it come am/is/are, and then the subject.

In everyday speech people shorten these: 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?

Point B · Exercise 2.3 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

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

    AnswerHow 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.)

Point B · Exercise 2.3 · part 2 of 2

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

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

  2. your new curtains? (Yellow.)

Point C of 3

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."

Point C · Exercise 2.5 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

    Are you a student?

    Yes, I am.

    AnswerNo, I'm not.

  2. Are you hungry?

  3. Is it windy today?

  4. Are your feet warm?

  5. Is it late now?

Point C · Exercise 2.5 · part 2 of 2

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

  1. Are you a doctor?

Put it together · Exercise 2.4 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

    (name?) Callum.

    What's your name?

    AnswerWhat'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.

Put it together · Exercise 2.4 · part 2 of 2

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

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

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

  3. (her name?) Fiona.

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

Lesson 2 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: I am doing (present continuous)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Making the question–Not checkedB. Where ... ? What ... ? Who ... ? How ... ? Why ... ?–Not checkedC. Short answers–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked