Title: Microtext 8: Short Answer

Microtext 8: Short Answers

revised/written/updated by Bridget Green

When you answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions in English, it is okay to just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as your answer.  However, it is more polite to give a slightly longer answer. If someone asks, “Are you from Japan?” It’s better to answer, “Yes, I am.” or “No, I’m not.” These are called ‘short answers’.

revised/written/updated by Bridget Green

Listen to the questions and write a true short answer. Use a pronoun as the subject of your answer. For example, if you hear, “Are you a student ?” You should write, “Yes, I am.” because you are a student.

If you hear, “Is your reading teacher 19 years old?” You should write, “No, she isn’t” if your reading teacher is a woman, and “No, he isn’t.” if your reading teacher is a man. Remember, write what is true for you.

Short Answer Fill in the Blanks 1-5

Listen to the questions from the audio and write the answer that's true for you.

Q: 1.  Are you in Spokane now?  [...]

2.  Was your father born in the United States? [...]

3.  Is your father over 50 years old? [...]

4.  Can you ride a bicycle? [...]

5.  Have you ever been to Italy? [...]
A: Yes, I am./No, I’m not.; Yes, he was./No, he wasn’t.; Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.; Yes, I can./No, I can’t.; Yes, I have./No, I haven’t.

Short Answer Fill in the Blanks 6-10

Listen to the questions from the audio and write the answer that's true for you.

Q: 6. [...]

7.  [...]

8. [...]

9.  [...]

10. [...]
A: Yes, I am./No, I’m not.; Yes, he is./No, she isn’t.; Yes, I did./No, I didn’t.; Yes, she does./No, she doesn’t.; Yes, I have./No, I haven’t.

Short Answer Fill in the Blanks 11-15

Listen to the questions from the audio and write the answer that's true for you.

Q: 11.  [...]

12.  [...]

13.  [...]

14. [...]

15.  [...]
A: Yes, she can./No, she can’t.; Yes, I am./No, I’m not.; Yes, I do./No, I don’t.; Yes, she is./No, she isn’t.; Yes, he does./No, he doesn’t.

Short Answer Fill in the Blanks 16-20

continued...

Q: 16. [...]

17. [...]

18. [...]

19. [...]

20. [...]
A: Yes, I am./No, I’m not.; Yes, we do./No, we don’t.; Yes, he can./No, he can’t.; Yes, I was./No, I wasn’t.; Yes, I could./No, I couldn’t

Short Answer Fill in the Blanks (Last one!)

What do you think?

Q: Do you like practicing short answers in English?

[...]
A: Yes, I do./No, I don’t.