Tonight’s singer was the best-selling male singles artist in Britain in the 1980s: a Welshman who sang 1950s rock ’n’ roll, with big hair and fast feet. His name was Shakin’ Stevens.
Learn from Songs · Unit 3: Questions · A2–B1
Yes I Do
Shakin’ Stevens’s cheerful rock ’n’ roll love song: yes / no questions and short answers (Do you love me? Yes, I do), auxiliary verbs in short answers (Yes, I am. No, I can’t), and So do I / Neither do I, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
Shakin’? Because he shook?
SOPHIA
He certainly did. This song answers a question with three little words: yes, I do. And in English, those little short answers are very important.
DEMETRIA
Do we have to learn them? Yes, we do.
Before you listen: the song
London, 1990
Shakin’ Stevens was born Michael Barratt in Cardiff in 1948, the youngest of eleven children. He sang 1950s-style rock ’n’ roll in pubs and clubs for years, and once opened for the Rolling Stones. He became famous playing Elvis Presley in a West End musical.
In the 1980s he had more British hit singles than any other male singer, including four number ones such as “This Ole House”, “Oh Julie” and “Merry Christmas Everyone”. In 1990 he tried a more modern sound with the producer Pete Hammond, and “Yes I Do” was one of the singles from the album There Are Two Kinds of Music… Rock ’n’ Roll.
The song is a simple, happy love song: a question, and a clear answer. Yes, he does.
A clear answer is a kind answer.
Listen: the answer
PHILO
Listen once. What is the question? What is the answer? How many times do you hear it?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
💍 Listen to the song: “Yes I Do” (Sulsh and Leathwood, 1990), sung by Shakin’ Stevens.Listen to the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Yes I Do”, Shakin’ Stevens.Read the lyrics →
Short answers
MARCOS
Do you love me? Yes, I do. Are you sure? Yes, I am. Can you dance? No, I can’t.
SOPHIA
Answer with Yes / No + subject + the same auxiliary: Does she know? Yes, she does. Have you finished? No, I haven’t. Will you come? Yes, I will. Just “yes” can sound cold; “Yes, I do” is warmer.
Yes / no questions
DEMETRIA
Do you…? Does he…? Did they…? Is it…? Have you ever…? Will you…?
SOPHIA
Put the auxiliary first: You love me → Do you love me? She is happy → Is she happy? Your voice usually goes up at the end.
So do I / Neither do I
PHILO
I love this song. So do I. I don’t like rain. Neither do I. I can’t sing. Nor can I.
SOPHIA
To agree with a positive: So + auxiliary + subject. With a negative: Neither / Nor + auxiliary + subject. Be careful: I’m tired. So am I. (not “So do I”).
Sophia’s comparison: Ruth’s answer and Achilles’ question
PHILO
When Boaz woke and found Ruth at his feet, he asked: who are you? And she answered clearly, and asked him to protect her family. No games, no tricks: a clear question and a clear answer.
SOPHIA
And when Achilles asked his mother Thetis whether he should go to Troy, she told him the truth: a short life with glory, or a long life without it. He chose. Sometimes a short answer changes a whole life.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yes / No + subject + auxiliary | short answers | Do you love me? Yes, I do. |
| auxiliary + subject + verb? | yes / no questions | Does she know? |
| So + auxiliary + subject | agreeing with a positive | I love it. So do I. |
| Neither / Nor + auxiliary + subject | agreeing with a negative | I can’t sing. Neither can I. |
| the same auxiliary | in answers and agreement | I’m tired. So am I. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What kind of song is it?
2. What is the answer in the title?
3. What was Shakin’ Stevens’s real name?
4. Which famous singer did he play in a musical?
5. What kind of music did he love?
6. What was special about him in the 1980s?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. Do you love me? Yes, I .
8. Are you sure? Yes, I .
9. Can you dance? No, I .
10. she know? Yes, she does.
11. I love this song. So I.
12. I can’t sing. Neither I.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “Do you like it? Yes, I like.”
14. “I’m hungry. So am I.”
15. “I don’t like rain. So do I.”
16. “Have you finished? No, I haven’t.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Yes or no? Ask a partner ten yes / no questions with different auxiliaries (Do you…? Can you…? Have you ever…? Will you…?). They must answer with full short answers.
Discuss. 1. Is it rude to answer just “yes” or “no”? 2. Why are simple love songs so popular? 3. What questions would you like a clear answer to?
Write (80–100 words). Write a short dialogue between two friends planning a day out, using at least six questions and short answers and two of so do I / neither do I.
Now play the gamebook: the yes-no game at the festival.Play the gamebook →