‘I’m not coming with you.’ – ‘Yes, you are.’
If the statement that you are commenting on does not contain an
auxiliary, modal, or the main verb ‘be’, you use a form of ‘do’ in the
short answer.
‘He never comes on time.’ – ‘Oh yes he does.’
3
You often reply to what has been said by using a short question.
‘He’s not in Japan now.’ – ‘Oh, isn’t he?’
‘He gets free meals.’ – ‘Does he?’
Note that questions like these are not always
asked to get information,
but are often used to express your reaction to what has been said, for
example to show interest or surprise.
‘Dad doesn’t help me at all.’ – ‘Doesn’t he? Why not?’
‘Penny has been climbing before.’ – ‘Oh, has she? When was that?’
4
If you want to show that you definitely agree with a positive statement
that
someone has just made, you can use a negative short question.
‘Well, that was very nice.’ – ‘Yes, wasn’t it?’
5
When you want to ask for more information, you can use a ‘wh’-word
on its own or with a noun as a short answer.
‘He saw a snake.’ – ‘Where?’
‘He knew my cousin.’ – ‘Which cousin?’
You can also use ‘Which one’ and ‘Which ones’.
‘Can you pass me the cup?’ – ‘Which one?’
6
Sometimes a statement about one person also applies to another
person.
When this is the case, you can use a short answer with ‘so’ for
positive statements, and with ‘neither’ or ‘nor’ for negative statements,
using the same verb that was used in the statement.
You use ‘so’, ‘neither’, or ‘nor’ with an auxiliary, modal, or the main
verb ‘be’. The verb comes before the subject.
‘You were different then.’ – ‘So were you.’
‘I don’t normally drink at lunch.’ – ‘Neither do I.’
‘I can’t do it.’ – ‘Nor can I.’
You can use ‘not either’ instead of ‘neither’, in which case the verb
comes after the subject.
‘He doesn’t understand.’ – ‘We don’t either.’
7
You often use ‘so’ in short answers after verbs such as ‘think’, ‘hope’,
‘expect’, ‘imagine’, and ‘suppose’, when
you think that the answer to
the question is ‘yes’.
‘You’ll be home at six?’ – ‘I hope so.’
‘So it was worth doing?’ – ‘I suppose so.’
You use ‘I’m afraid so’ when you are sorry that the answer is ‘yes’.
‘Is it raining?’ – ‘I’m afraid so.’
With ‘suppose’, ‘think’, ‘imagine’, or ‘expect’ in short answers, you also
form negatives with ‘so’.
‘Will I see you again?’ – ‘I don’t suppose so.’
‘Is Barry Knight a golfer?’ – ‘No, I don’t think so.’
However, you say ‘I hope not’ and ‘I’m afraid not’.
‘It isn’t empty, is it?’ – ‘I hope not.’