YES/NO

QUESTIONS
Prepared by: Elaine A. Aguda II-13 BSE
English
The Form of YES/NO
Questions
Subject-Operator Inversion
With an Auxiliary Verb

They will be on Reno on Friday.

Will they be on Reno on Friday?
They will be in Reno on Friday.
S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
NP AUX VP Advl
pro M cop PrepP PrepP
they will be Prep NP PrepP NP
in N on N
Reno Friday

Will they be in Reno on Friday?
S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
will NP AUX VP Advl
pro M cop PrepP PrepP
they be Prep NP PrepP NP
in N on N
Reno Friday
subject-operator inversion
With the Be Copula


Pamela was a graduate student at the
time.

Was Pamela a graduate student at the
time?
Pamela was a graduate student at the time.

S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
NP AUX VP Advl
N T cop NP PrepP
Pamela -past be det AP N PrepP NP
a adj student at det N
graduate the time
Was Pamela a graduate student at the time?

S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
-past be NP AUX VP Advl
N T cop NP PrepP
Pamela det AP N PrepP NP
a adj student at det N
graduate the time
Subject-operator inversion
+3
+sg
With Other Verbs

Arlene plays the organ on
Sunday.

Does Arlene play the organ on
Sunday?
Arlene plays the organ on Sunday.

S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
NP AUX VP Advl
N T V NP PrepP
Arlene -pres play det N PrepP NP
the organ on N
Sunday
Arlene plays the organ on Sunday.

S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
NP AUX VP Advl
N T V NP PrepP
Arlene -pres do play det N PrepP NP
the organ on N
Sunday
+3
+sg
1. Copy s/t
2. Operator
addition
Does Arlene play the organ on Sunday.

S
sm S
Q SUBJ PRED
NP AUX VP Advl
N T V NP PrepP
Arlene play det N PrepP NP
the organ on N
Sunday
+3
+sg
-pres do
The Meaning of Yes/No Questions
Negative Yes/No Questions

Is Josh playing soccer next year?
(neutral)
Isnt Josh playing soccer next year?
(disappointment or annoyance)
. . .
For Asian and West African
native speakers:
Dont you have bananas?
Yes( we have no
bananas)
No (we have bananas)
. . .
For English Native Speakers:

Dont you have bananas?
Yes( we do)
No (we dont)


Issues of Use Concerning Yes/No
Questions
The Use of Short
Answers

Uninverted Yes/No
Questions


Elliptical Questions

Uninverted Yes/No Questions
EXAMPLE:

Worker to Supervisor:
Youre going to the dance?

-the speaker expects confirmation of a
positive or negative presupposition
Issues of Use Concerning Yes/No
Questions
The Use of Short
Answers

Uninverted Yes/No
Questions


Elliptical Questions

Elliptical Questions

EXAMPLES:

(ARE) You going to the
movies?
(Has) She been feeling better?
(Do) You know Fred
Callahan?
Issues of Use Concerning Yes/No
Questions
The Use of ARENT As A
GAP-FILLER
OTHER FUNCTIONS
Contracted VS.
Uncontracted Negatives
Contracted VS. Uncontracted
Negatives (Negative Questions)

EXAMPLE:

Isnt it appropriate?
Is it not appropriate?
OTHER FUNCTIONS
Can I get a ride home with you?
(direct request)

Could I get a ride home with you?
(less direct)

Would you like to sit for a while
(invitation)
OTHER FUNCTIONS
Would you please stand up straight?
(commands)

Arent you little old to be doing that?
(reprimand)

Have you ever stayed home all day
with a two-year-old? ( complain)