Study Resource: Other ways to answer yes/no questions in English

not considered a “real word”

not considered a “real word”

a strong “yes”

an uncertain “yes”

an uncertain “yes”

for an obvious “yes”

for an obvious “yes”

a strong “yes”

for an obvious “yes”

a strong “yes”

old-fashioned

a positive sentence
(e.g. We do have cookies!)

the positive sentence will usually repeat the auxiliary verb and emphasize it; often comes after another form of “yes”

not considered a “real word”

mm-mm (falling tone)

an uncertain “no”

a strong “no”

a strong “no”

an obvious “no”

old-fashioned

an obvious “no”

a negative sentence
(e.g. We don't have cookies!)

more commonly comes after another form of “no”

usually needs more explanation

= “I don’t know”; dunno is not considered a “real word”

you need more information to answer

you need specific information to answer

you think nobody knows the answer

a command
(e.g. Ask John.)