Short Answers
When the answer to a question is yes or no or we have a subject question, we often use a Short Answer.
Are you rich? - No, I'm not!
Does he smoke? - Yes, he does.
Who killed the king? - He did.
We can answer with yes or no, but this is less usual than a short answer.
For the verb be and modal or auxiliary verbs, the pattern is:
{yes/no} + {subject} + {auxiliary}
Are we happy? - No, we aren't!
Can you swim? - Yes, I can.
Do you like it? - Yes, we do.
With subject questions:
{subject} + {modal/auxiliary}
Who found it? - I did.
What was found? - This was.
How many have left? - Seventeen have.
Note that when the answer is yes/no + be, we never abbreviate the verb:
* Yes, I'm.
* No, he's.
