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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Yes/No Questions - Is This Question Grammatically Correct?
Yes/No Questions - Is This Question Grammatically Correct?
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worldangel
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Yes/No Questions - Is This Question Grammatically Correct?
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The task is that my students need to form �Yes/No � questions from the statements given. One of the statements given was this:
�No, it is not a fancy-dress party �.
Most of my pupils wrote the question as:
�Is it a fancy-dress party? �
Is this sentence grammatically correct, particularly the �is it � part? My gut feeling somehow tells me that there is something wrong there, but I can �t really pinpoint the mistake...
Thanks in advance!
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4 Apr 2009
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libertybelle
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Grammatically - the answer is correct.
A correct answer is almost always a part of the question.
Is this girl 12 years old.
Yes, this girl is 12 years old.
Are the boys tired?
yes, the boys are tired.
Hope this helps
L
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4 Apr 2009
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freddie
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Hello!
As your question must follow from the answer the students were given then I absolutely agree with the lovely and talented Libertybelle. 
But you may be questioning the use of ´it´ vs ´this´ As always then answer depends on the context.
If you arrive at the party and you did not wear appropriate clothes and you notice everyone in costumes you would ask someone " Is this (as in this party that we are at, more immediate) a fancy dress party?"
But if someone is inviting you to a party and you ask them /What kind of party is it? Is it a fancy dress party? The �it` here refers to the party that you are talking about. It is more removed.
Hope that was useful?
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4 Apr 2009
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worldangel
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Yup, both of the replies here have been extremely helpful! Thanks :)
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5 Apr 2009
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