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Grammar Focus • 12 Minutes

be in negatives and short answers

Learn how to say "no", ask questions, and give quick answers about people and jobs.

📌 How to use this lesson

For the teacher:

Guide learners through the 4 rules in 12 minutes.

Check the answers together after each practice section.

For the learner:

Read the rules and look at the right and wrong words first.

Do the practice exercises and check your score.

Rules for Negatives and Questions

Saying "no" for one person

Put isn't after he, she, it. Put aren't after you, we, they. For I, say I'm not.

✅ Right: She isn't here. / I'm not ready.

❌ Wrong: She not here. / I isn't ready.

Examples:

• My aunt isn't a painter.

• I am not a baker.

Saying "no" for two or more people

Use aren't with an -s at the end. Do not use a or an.

✅ Right: They aren't helpers.

❌ Wrong: They aren't a helper. / They aren't a helpers.

Examples:

• Those men aren't builders.

• We aren't cleaners.

Asking questions

Put Is or Are at the front before the person.

✅ Right: Is he ready? / Are they here?

❌ Wrong: He is ready? / They are here?

Examples:

• Is your mother a guard?

• Are they mechanics?

Giving short answers

Answer with Yes or No and the matching little word. Do not say the other words again.

✅ Right: Yes, they are. / No, she isn't.

❌ Wrong: Yes, they are helpers. / No, she isn't helper.

Examples:

• Are your cousins nurses? Yes, they are.

• Is Tom a pilot? No, he isn't.

💡 Remember: Stop after "is", "isn't", "are", or "aren't" in short answers. Never repeat the job!

Practice Exercises

Complete each exercise. Check the bracket for a clue.

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

1. Which sentence is right? (he)

____ He isn't a sailor ____ He not a sailor ____ He isn't sailor

2. Which sentence is right? (plural)

____ They aren't a farmers ____ They aren't farmers ____ They not farmers

3. Which question is right? (question)

____ Is she a baker ____ She is a baker ____ Is she baker

Part 2: Rewrite as a negative sentence

4. Rewrite: "She is a cleaner." (negative)

____ (Type the negative sentence...)

5. Rewrite: "The women are nurses." (plural)

____ (Type the negative sentence...)

6. Rewrite: "My brother is a mechanic." (brother)

____ (Type the negative sentence...)

Part 3: Fill the gaps

7. Complete the question: (one)

____ (Word) your dad a pilot? — Yes, he is.

8. Complete the short answer: (no)

Are the girls painters? — No, they ____ (Word) .

9. Complete the short answer: (plural)

Are we guards? — Yes, ____ (Word) are.

Part 4: Correct the error in a short message

10. Fix the mistake in this chat message: (article)

💬 "Hi! My uncles aren't a builders. They work in a bank."

Write the whole corrected sentence:

____ (Type corrected sentence...)

11. Fix the short answer in this chat message: (short)

💬 "Is Anna a nurse? No, she isn't a nurse."

Write the corrected short answer:

____ (Type corrected answer...)

12. Fix the question word order in this chat message: (order)

💬 "Your brother is a farmer? He works outdoors."

Write the corrected question:

____ (Type corrected question...)

Grammar: Be in Negatives and Short Answers

be in negatives and short answers

📌 How to use this lesson

Rules for Negatives and Questions

Saying "no" for one person

Saying "no" for two or more people

Asking questions

Giving short answers

Practice Exercises

Related lessons

Reading: The Job of a Baker

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Jobs People Do

Jobs People Do: Vocabulary & Pronunciation

Writing: Jobs People Do

Can and Can't for Ability

There Is and There Are