How to Make a Yes/No Question

To make a yes/no question, you can simply make a statement and add what we call a "tag". Tags are expressions like, "right?" "isn't he?" "true?" "don't you?" In Spanish, Cierto, Verdad, sí and no are all tags that mean "right?" or "true?"

You are Ricardo Gómez García, right? Usted es Ricardo Gómez García, ¿verdad?
You work at IBM, don't you? Trabaja para IBM, ¿cierto?

You also can add a questioning tone to a statement, just as we do in English:

You live at 131 Oak Street? ¿Vives tú en la Calle Robles, número 131?
You're a student? ¿Eres estudiante?

When answering Yes/No questions negatively in Spanish, you will need to remember to use "no" twice. The first "no" means "no" and answers the question. The second "no" means "not".

For example, if I ask you, "¿Usted es de España? "

To tell me, "No, I am not from Spain", you respond, "No, no soy de España."

Keep in mind that in Spanish, as in English, the subject and verb may switch places when in a question:

¿Es Franziska de Alemania? Is Franziska from Germany?
Sí, Franziska es de Alemania. Yes, Franziska is from Germany.

¿Estudia Susana mucho? Does Susana study a lot?*
Sí, Susana estudia mucho. Yes, Susana studies a lot.

* Notice in the second example that English uses the auxillary verb "to Do" to form the question, while Spanish needs only the present tense conjugation.

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