Practice Speaking English: How to give short answers about yourself

Do you get nervous when people ask you questions in English? Do you wish you could answer easily, quickly, and confidently? In this lesson, you'll learn and practice how to give short answers with the verb "to be". You'll learn to answer positively and negatively for the present, past, and future. But for this video, our focus is not on grammar. It's on getting used to answering common questions naturally. You'll practice speaking by repeating these short answers again and again. Watch this lesson and you'll be able to confidently use the expressions: "yes, I am", "no, I'm not", "yes, I was", "no, I wasn't", "yes, I will", and "no, I won't". Practice with the quiz at https://www.engvid.com/practice-speaking-english-short-answers/ and perfect these easy answers today!

TRANSCRIPT

Do you feel stressed out when people start asking you questions about you in English? Do you get nervous, confused? Why? Why are you scared? Well, sometimes it's because suddenly the attention is on you and you have to respond. Right? So, my name is Rebecca, and in this lesson I'll show you how to solve that problem very easily. Now, of course, there are all kinds of questions in English, but in this lesson we'll focus on questions with the verb "to be" in the past, present, and future. Why only the verb "to be"? Because the verb "to be" is a very common verb in English, and lots of questions are asked to you using this verb. Now, because people ask you a lot of questions, in this lesson I'm only going to focus on questions that people ask you, so you know exactly how to answer. These are not how to answer questions about him, or her, or us, or them. Okay? Only about you. All right? So by the end of this lesson you will know how to answer these questions, and feel much more confident and comfortable. Okay? Let's get started.

So, first of all, the thing to remember that in English when somebody asks you a question, especially when it's a yes or no question, you don't usually just say: "Yes." or: "No." because it sounds a little too short, and could be a little rude, could sound nervous, could sound angry. So usually we say a little bit more. Why? Just because then it sounds a little bit more like a sentence. And these... This little bit more are... This is called short answers. Okay? That's what we'll learn now.

So, for example, the question will start something like this: "Are you something?" and we're going to practice many times so you get it, and your answers... The options are: "Yes, I am." or: "No, I'm not." Okay? This and this, these are called short answers with the verb "to be". "Yes, I am.", "No, I'm not." Okay? This is, of course, contracted a little bit, but don't analyze it. Okay? Just repeat it after me so that it comes out of your mouth very easily. So, now I'm going to ask you some questions about you, and wherever you are, I want you to answer. If you're in a library, say it quietly. Okay? Or say it in your mind, but better if you can actually pronounce it and say it. So I'm asking you: Are you married? You could say: "Yes, I am." or: "No, I'm not." Okay? So say it. Really, tell the truth about you. Okay? Next: Are you American? So you probably said: "Yes, I am." or: "No, I'm not." Are you having dinner right now? "Yes, I am.", "No, I'm not." Okay. Are you a student? "Yes, I am.", "No, I'm not." Are you at the library? What did you say? "Yes, I am." And some of you said: "No, I'm not." In case you realized, these are general questions, these are a little bit academic, and now we come to the more professional questions somebody might ask you at work. Are you a manager? And you could say: "Yes, I am." or: "No, I'm not." And last: Are you attending any meetings this week? Even if you're not, just pretend. Give me an answer. "Yes, I am.", "No, I'm not." Okay? So, in the present tense these are the only two options you have, these are the only two things you have to learn: "Yes, I am.", "No, I'm not." Next we'll look at how to answer these questions in the past.

So, in the past our question will be: "Were you something?" Okay? And the answer will be: "Yes, I was." or: "No, I wasn't." Say it after me: "Yes, I was.", "No, I wasn't." Okay? So, let's look at some imaginary questions. These are general, these are to do with the academic world, and this has to do with work or at your job. Okay? So: Were you busy yesterday? So you could say: "Yes, I was." or: "No, I wasn't." Were you in London last year? You could say: "Yes, I was." Maybe you were. Or: "No, I wasn't." Okay, next: Were you ready for your last English test? I hope you're saying: "Yes, I was because I watched engVid." Or: "No, I wasn't. I have to watch more engVid." Okay. Or: Were you doing your homework when I called? Okay? "Yes, I was." or: "No, I wasn't." All right. Now: Were you on the phone? "Yes, I was." or: "No, I wasn't." And last: Were you at the conference last week? And you're saying either: "Yes, I was." or: "No, I wasn't."