New here? This is lesson 9 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Yes and no in English
Ana sits at the Blue Plate counter. Dee holds the coffee pot and asks if she wants coffee.
Ana answers with Yes, I am. Dee wanted Yes, please. Short answers need the right last words.
By the end, you'll say yes and no in full. You'll take an offer, say no politely, and answer questions about you and things you do.
Yes, please takes the coffee. Yes, I am is for questions about you.
By the end of this lesson
Answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.
- Yes, please.yes, and you want that thing
- No, thank you.no, and you are polite about it
- Yes, I am.yes, about you
- No, I'm not.no, about you
- Yes, I do.yes, about a thing you do or have
- No, I don't.no, about a thing you do or have
Scene — the coffee pot
Same morning at the Blue Plate. Ana is on a red stool. Dee holds the coffee pot over the counter.
Murray sits on two stools at the end, with two eggs and a black coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
Learn — yes and no
Six short lines cover yes and no in full.
You'll take an offer, say no politely, and answer about you and things you do.
Yes, please.
yes, and you want that thing
When to use it: Say this when you want the thing they offer.
Learn it as one piece when you want the offer.
Say it: The stress is on please.
No, thank you.
no, and you are polite about it
When to use it: Say this to say no to an offer, politely.
Learn it as one piece for a polite no.
Yes, I am.
yes, about you
When to use it: Say this when they ask if you are something.
Learn it as one piece when the question is about you.
No, I'm not.
no, about you
When to use it: Say this when they ask if you are something, and you are not.
Learn it as one piece when you are not that thing.
Yes, I do.
yes, about a thing you do or have
When to use it: Say this when they ask if you do or have something.
Learn it as one piece when the question is about a thing you do.
No, I don't.
no, about a thing you do or have
When to use it: Say this when they ask if you do or have something, and you do not.
Learn it as one piece when you do not do that thing.
Say it: Don't has a strong n sound.
Story — the wrong yes
Watch Ana at the counter. Dee holds the pot and waits for a short yes or no.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Dee holds the coffee pot over Ana's empty cup.
DeeGood morning, hon. You want coffee?hello before noon, then she offers coffee
AnaGood morning. Yes, I am.She says hello, then uses the about-you yes.- Dee stops pouring. She looks at Ana.
- DeeJust say, "Yes, please," hon.She wants the offer answer, not the about-you answer.
- AnaYes, please.yes, and you want that thing
- Murray leans in from two stools.
MurrayWell, do you take cream?he asks if she uses cream- AnaNo, I don't.no, about a thing you do or have
- DeeMore coffee, hon?she offers more coffee
- AnaNo, thank you.no, and you are polite about it
- MurrayDo you live nearby?he asks if her home is close
- AnaYes, I do.yes, about a thing you do or have
- DeeAre you from around here?she asks if Ana is from this place
- AnaNo, I'm not.no, about you
Practice — the right last words
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and swap a word.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Yes, please.Drop the Simple English hereNo, thank you.Drop the Simple English hereYes, I am.Drop the Simple English hereNo, I'm not.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
Dee holds the pot again. You do not want more coffee.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Yes, I am.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
no, about a thing you do or have
No, I ____.
Build the line
Build the line
no, and you are polite about it
, .
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Murray says:
Pick the reply
Do you live nearby?
he asks if her home is close
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Dee asks if you are from around here. You are not.
No, I'm ____.
True or false?
True or false?
This line is how you take coffee.
What do you say?
What do you say?
It is nine in the morning. You greet Dee at the door.
Pick the reply
Dee says:
Pick the reply
How are you?
you ask this when you greet someone
And you reply with:
Say it — say it back
Now you're Ana at the counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- DeeYou want coffee, hon?she offers coffee
- Ana (you)You want the coffee.
You want the coffee.
Yes, please.
yes, and you want that thing
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, please. | yes, and you want that thing | |
| No, thank you. | no, and you are polite about it | |
| Yes, I am. | yes, about you | |
| No, I'm not. | no, about you | |
| Yes, I do. | yes, about a thing you do or have | |
| No, I don't. | no, about a thing you do or have |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these yes and no lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your yes and no ready.
Open Yak Cards