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Short Answers Workshop: Am, Do or Can?

By the end: I can match a short answer to a simple question.

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Playback speed

Choose a short recording.

Answer a be question

Use am, is or are in the answer. Change you to I when you answer about yourself.

Are you ready? Yes, I am.

Is he here? No, he isn’t.

Lesson scene for Are you ready? Yes, I am. People and essential props on white. — Are you ready? Yes, I am.The short answer keeps am from the be question.

Answer a do question

Keep do or does. Use don’t or doesn’t for a negative reply.

Do you work here? Yes, I do.

Does she drive? No, she doesn’t.

Answer a can question

Keep can or can’t. A positive short answer needs the full can.

Can you swim? Yes, I can.

Can they come? No, they can’t.

Driving and being able to take someone are different questions

The recorded driving questionDoes Leo drive? Yes, he does.

This confirms that Leo drives.

The recorded lift questionCan he take us? No, he can’t.

This says he cannot take the speakers in this situation.

The second answer does not cancel the first fact. The recording gives no reason why Leo cannot take them.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.

1. Answer yes about yourself: Are you tired?

Compare a model and explanation

Yes, I am.

Use am with I.

2. Answer no: Is Mia a teacher?

Compare a model and explanation

No, she isn’t.

Is becomes isn’t in the negative.

3. Answer yes: Do they work here?

Compare a model and explanation

Yes, they do.

Keep do.

4. Answer no: Does Tom play tennis?

Compare a model and explanation

No, he doesn’t.

Use doesn’t with he.

5. Answer yes about yourself: Can you help?

Compare a model and explanation

Yes, I can.

Keep can and change you to I.

6. Answer no: Are the shops open?

Compare a model and explanation

No, they aren’t.

Use they for plural shops.

7. Correct the short answer: Do you swim? Yes, I am.

Compare a model and explanation

Yes, I do.

Match do, not be.

8. Answer both positively: Are you free? Can you come?

Compare a model and explanation

Yes, I am. Yes, I can.

Different questions need different short answers.

A short conversation

Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.

Open the conversation transcript

A: Are you free on Saturday?

B: Yes, I am. Do you want to meet?

A: Yes, I do. Can you come at ten?

B: No, I can’t. Is eleven OK?

Listening checks

Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.

Lesson scene for Do you work here? Yes, I do. People and essential props on white. — Do you work here? Yes, I do.The short answer keeps do from the present-simple question.

Use it in your own words

Speaking 1

Ask and answer one question with be and one with do.

Reveal a possible response

Are you busy? No, I’m not. Do you work today? Yes, I do.

Success check: Match each question’s auxiliary.

Speaking 2

Ask about two abilities. Give one positive and one negative answer.

Reveal a possible response

Can you swim? Yes, I can. Can you ski? No, I can’t.

Success check: Keep can in both replies.

Put it all together

Arrange a meeting using be, do and can questions.

Reveal a possible response

Are you free? Yes, I am. Do you want coffee? Yes, I do. Can you meet at two? No, I can’t. Three? Yes.

Success check: Change the answer form when the question changes.

Take it with you

I can match a short answer to a simple question.