Polite English – Saying Yes and No

Did you know that the words “yes” and “no”, when used alone, can make you sound rude and angry? In this English lesson, you’ll learn the secret of how to communicate these basic messages simply and politely. Take the free quiz after the lesson to test your knowledge.

Please leave a response below.

Take an English quiz based on this lesson!

Test your understanding of the English lesson by answering these questions. You will get the answers and your score at the end of the quiz.

Do you know where the washrooms are?




Excuse me, do you have any pink gift wrap?




Would you know where I could find the toy department.




Is this the check-in counter for Air Canada?




Excuse me, are you Mr John Brown?




Do you know where I could get a taxi?






59 Responses to “Polite English – Saying Yes and No”

  1. adumio :

    thanks you very much for this polite english lesson:)

  2. batyr :

    it’s very good video, i like it

  3. pina :

    that’s a very ineresting video…clear explanations in english …..good idea the final test about it. Thanks a lot.


    • RebeccaESL :

      Yes, the test helps to review what you have learned. All the best!

  4. Amvika :

    Hi,
    Its a very good website for learning English.
    Please keep updating this site.
    Thanks
    Amvika


    • RebeccaESL :

      Yes, we shall. Please do tell your friends about our website so we can continue to grow.

  5. Slava :

    it is amazing, it is like a revolution in my mind, even I am learning English long time. Very halpfull.


    • RebeccaESL :

      Wow, thanks. So glad it helped you.

      These are the little changes that can make a big difference in being culturally appropriate and not just linguistically correct.

      All the best with your English.

  6. Tuan :

    I learn in engVid.
    I become a new student for engvid.
    You can help me learn English in engVid.
    Befour I don’t like to learn English, because I don’t know learn than what do? I learn English from 12 to 18 ago.
    My name Tuan, from Viet Nam, I am singler, I haven’t many money. I learnning English, I can help for teacher in EngVid.
    Thank you, very much.


    • RebeccaESL :

      So glad we can help you out. All the best to you, Tuan.

  7. awi :

    amazing :)

  8. gloria :

    there’s something Rebecca says in this video “I’m going to BE leaving in a few minutes” that it’s the first time I hear it. I knew the other expression that she says “I’m leaving in a few minutes”. Does the 1st sentence mean something more or different than the 2nd one? Please help me, I’m a little confused.


    • RebeccaESL :

      Hi Gloria

      Both sentences are correct and mean more or less the same thing.

      Thanks for your interest and all the best to you.

  9. Omar Ventura :

    I just can say “awesome”

    I do not know how to thank all of you.


    • RebeccaESL :

      That’s a cool compliment, Omar. Thanks and all the best to you.

  10. star light :

    Thank you very much , for lesson


    • RebeccaESL :

      You’re very welcome. Good luck to you!

  11. khurram chaudhry :

    Thanks you very much for lesson really so good
    khurram


    • RebeccaESL :

      You’re welcome Khurram. My best wishes to you.

  12. Omar Ventura :

    Hi Rebecca,

    I have one question for you, it has nothing to do with this class. I studied English in Mexico, at school there I studied to take the CAE test, this was the last level students could reach. However, I have heard about other two tests the CPE and the IELTS.

    I just would like to know which of these three exams is the most difficult and which one has the highest level accordind to the cambridge framework

    Thank you so much.


    • RebeccaESL :

      The CPE is higher than the CAE, and is the most advanced exam that CAmbridge offers.

      The IELTS has 2 versions — general and academic. The Academic is at a higher level, and is used for admission to English speaking universities, for example.

      You can check the Cambridge ESOL website for more specific comparisons and info.

      All the best to you.

  13. Luvia :

    Hi,

    your lesson is so interesting and very creative.


    • RebeccaESL :

      Thanks, Luvia. Glad it helped you. All the best!

  14. ayen07 :

    to all engvid teacher thank you very much,you guys are awesome..Godbless you all..


    • RebeccaESL :

      Thank you kindly. Our best wishes to you too and good luck with your English.

  15. ashabi :

    hi.rebecca; thanks alot for your lessons and iwould like to ask u about the expressions(when person said thank you? the answer ihad studied before is Not at all ) is it corect? and why you didnt held it in your lessons pls answered me
    noticed that.> istudied english (LONG MAN CO )


    • RebeccaESL :

      Yes, Ashabi, you can certainly say “Not at all” in response to someone thanking you.

      I did not include it in my lesson because I explained different ways to say thank you and not how to respond to the thank you!

      Glad you are enjoying the lessons.

  16. cch6008 :

    thanks you . it was great!

  17. Mazhi :

    Hi, Rebecca!

    I would like to ask if you are helping with writing?!
    I mean, I need someone who could check my writing (essays) for mistakes, will you help me with that?
    By the way, this website and youtube english lessons are great, thank you, and I look forward to get reply!


    • RebeccaESL :

      Hi Mazhi

      We do not currently offer a service to correct essays.

      Thanks for your feedback and glad you enjoy the lessons on engvid.

      All the best to you.

  18. ashabi :

    hi rebecca ,iasked before and no answer?

  19. sergeyuliba :

    Rebecca, please, make a lesson on how to use “have had” and “had had”!!!


    • RebeccaESL :

      Thanks for the suggestion. Will keep this in mind, Past perfect and present perfect can be confusing, I understand.

      All the best with your English.

  20. noureen khurshedi :

    hi rebecca ,saying yes or no ,lesson is super.i don,t know how to thankyou


    • RebeccaESL :

      You just did! You’re very welcome, my friend.

  21. ashabi :

    pls answer my question


  22. RebeccaESL :

    Thanks to everyone who left feedback. It’s always nice to know we have helped you. My best wishes to all of you.

  23. kari :

    Hi rebeca you are a god teacher, and yes or no is very god i need leard more, im always confuse with the present and past sentences example. was , wasent. did, didn’t, does, dosen’t you know, all this world. thanks for help us.

  24. lovelydmkoy :

    thank so much..very clear lesson but i got 4 out of 6…lol

  25. salah alnahdi :

    thanks alot it’s really helpeful

  26. rafa :

    Thaks, for a lesson!.

  27. ilah :

    Thanks, for a lesson!. can give a new lesson? i like you lesson! it’s very help. how to speaking english…please respond my coment… :) :-)………

  28. ilah :

    Thanks, for a lesson!. can give a new lesson? i like you lesson! it’s very help. how to speaking english…please respond my coment… :) :-)………

  29. Vikky :

    Thanks, this lassons are realy great and helpfull !

  30. Tippu Shahzad :

    your lesson is really heplful for me…. thank you very much

  31. Ricardinho Britto :

    wow! I loved your explanation, and this is my first class here in this site.
    It was very good to know yes or no right and politely. congratulations on your class. I’m still a little embarrassed by quei I can not speak engles not know much yet, but I know that little by little I’m learning, and estamaos here for this, learn, eh!, Rsrsrs
    bye, bye and God bless you

  32. mostafa ezz :

    hi Rebecca
    thank you for your simple desscus
    I wavt study english
    can you give me a plane to do that
    some thing like what first grammer or words
    all my best wishes to you
    قف للمعلم وفه التبجيلا كاد المعلم ان يكون رسولا

  33. Alenika :

    Hello. Rebecca! Your lessons are very usefull for me! I always listeh attentive and try undrestand. Not always this comw out with ferst time!
    Thank you!

  34. ash_jlb :

    Hi rebecca! I am from philippines.i am very eager to learn more. Im afraid to tell other people around me whats on my mind in english word because im afraid to be criticize. But with this site i am beginning to renew my confidence.

  35. Zizi :

    Hi Rebacca

    This is amazing lesson , thanks for your efforts, I am new student in your class, I love english , but I have some problems in speaking and listening skills , I wish , I’ll be better by learning in this site.

  36. Alberto :

    Hello Rebecca,

    I’m an english teacher at an institution in venezuela and i wanted to tell that you and the rest of the teachers have done a wonderful job with this web site, it has helped me improve my english a lot. I have also recommended it to my students and they love it.

    Thank you, and thanks for this lesson.

  37. hebah :

    hello rebicca

    my name is hebah . I’m very happy because I became a member of the web site

  38. Aslam :

    thank you so much for your video it’s very nice

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