Have you? Are you? Don't you? Etc.

This lesson explains how English forms short yes/no questions and short answers using auxiliary verbs (be, have, do, modals). You'll learn how to invert the subject and auxiliary, when to use do-support, and how to give short answers or negative short answers.

• Yes/no questions place the auxiliary before the subject: Are you ready? Have you sent it?
• For verbs without an auxiliary in the present simple, use do/does: Do you work remotely? Don't you work on-site?
• Short answers repeat the auxiliary (Yes, I am. / No, she hasn't. / Yes, I do.).
• Question tags follow the auxiliary and change polarity: You're coming, aren't you? You haven't sent it, have you?

Remember where to put the auxiliary and when to use "do" support:

• If the sentence already has an auxiliary (be, have, modal, will, did), move it before the subject: "Are you ready?" "Have they replied?"
• If the main verb has no auxiliary (present simple), add do/does/did and invert: "Do you work remotely?" "Does she manage the team?"
• Short answers repeat the auxiliary only: "Yes, he did." "No, we haven't."
• Question tags use the same auxiliary and opposite polarity: "She's on the call, isn't she?"

Think: If there's an auxiliary, invert it; if not, use do-support.

Watch for universal errors when forming questions and short answers:

• Forgetting do-support: saying *You work remotely?* instead of Do you work remotely? (informal spoken English aside)
• Using the main verb instead of the auxiliary in short answers: *Yes, I work.* instead of Yes, I do. (correct, but auxiliary repetition is standard)
• Mismatching polarity in question tags: You have finished, aren't you? → should be have you?/haven't you?
• Using two auxiliaries unnecessarily: *Do you can send it?* (wrong). Instead: Can you send it?

Focus on the auxiliary: it's the word you move to make a question and the word you repeat in short answers.