Yes/No questions and answers

Yes/No questions, also known as closed questions, are a cornerstone of communication in any language. In Spanish, these questions are simple to construct and respond to. This guide will delve into the structure of Yes/No questions, how to answer them, and offer numerous examples to aid you in mastering this vital element of Spanish conversation.

Forming Yes/No Questions

In Spanish, Yes/No questions typically begin with a verb, and their formation involves inverting the subject and verb order. The basic structure is:

¿[Verb] + [Subject] + [Rest of the sentence]?

Examples:

1. ¿Hablas español? (Do you speak Spanish?)
2. ¿Tiene hambre? (Are you hungry?)
3. ¿Viven en Madrid? (Do they live in Madrid?)

Answering Yes/No Questions

The simplest way to answer these questions is with “Sí” (Yes) or “No” (No). However, it’s common and often feels more natural to incorporate a short explanation or repeat a part of the question in your response.

Basic Answers:

• Sí (Yes)
• No (No)

More Natural Answers:

• Sí, [repeat part of the question]
• No, [repeat part of the question with “no”]

Examples:

1. Q: ¿Hablas español? (Do you speak Spanish?) A: Sí, hablo español. (Yes, I speak Spanish.) A: No, no hablo español. (No, I don’t speak Spanish.)
2. Q: ¿Tiene hambre? (Are you hungry?) A: Sí, tengo mucha hambre. (Yes, I’m very hungry.) A: No, no tengo hambre. (No, I’m not hungry.)
3. Q: ¿Viven en Madrid? (Do they live in Madrid?) A: Sí, viven en Madrid. (Yes, they live in Madrid.) A: No, no viven en Madrid. (No, they don’t live in Madrid.)

Common Yes/No Question Structures

1. Using “ser” or “estar” (to be):

• ¿Eres estudiante? (Are you a student?)
• ¿Está listo el informe? (Is the report ready?)

2. Using other verbs:

• ¿Trabajas mañana? (Do you work tomorrow?)
• ¿Quieres ir al cine? (Do you want to go to the movies?)

3. Using the present perfect tense:

• ¿Has visitado España? (Have you visited Spain?)
• ¿Han terminado la tarea? (Have they finished the homework?)

4. Using the past tense:

• ¿Fuiste a la fiesta ayer? (Did you go to the party yesterday?)
• ¿Viste la película? (Did you see the movie?)

5. Using the future tense:

• ¿Vendrás a la reunión? (Will you come to the meeting?)
• ¿Lloverá mañana? (Will it rain tomorrow?)

More Complex Examples

1. Q: ¿Te gustaría viajar a Sudamérica el próximo verano? (Would you like to travel to South America next summer?) A: Sí, me encantaría viajar a Sudamérica. (Yes, I would love to travel to South America.) A: No, preferiría viajar a Europa. (No, I would prefer to travel to Europe.)
2. Q: ¿Has probado alguna vez la comida peruana? (Have you ever tried Peruvian food?) A: Sí, he probado ceviche y me encantó. (Yes, I’ve tried ceviche and I loved it.) A: No, nunca he tenido la oportunidad. (No, I’ve never had the opportunity.)
3. Q: ¿Crees que aprenderás a hablar español con fluidez este año? (Do you think you’ll learn to speak Spanish fluently this year?) A: Sí, creo que con práctica constante lo lograré. (Yes, I think with constant practice I’ll achieve it.) A: No, creo que me tomará más tiempo. (No, I think it will take me more time.)

Tips for Mastering Yes/No Questions in Spanish

1. Practice inverting the subject and verb mentally when forming questions.
2. Listen attentively to native speakers and observe how they construct and answer these questions.
3. Don’t hesitate to elaborate on your “Sí” or “No” answers to sound more natural.
4. Remember that in many cases, the subject pronoun can be omitted in Spanish, making questions even shorter.
5. Pay attention to the context, as sometimes a statement with rising intonation can function as a Yes/No question in spoken Spanish.

By mastering Yes/No questions and answers, you’ll be well on your way to smoother and more natural conversations in Spanish. Keep practicing with different verb tenses and contexts to enhance your skills! ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)