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7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

I was flipping through 501 English Verbs the other day and came across "Yes" as a verb.

Infinitive: to yes.
Past: I yessed.
Future: I will yes.
Perfect Infinitive: to have been yessed.

I've checked online and not much info on this. I'm curious if anyone has ever seen or used "yes" as a verb. How is it to be used and who uses it? Or is it simply outdated?

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I have seen it.

Please 'yes' or 'no' the following survey:

YES NO I like hamburgers

YES NO I dislike hamburgers

YES NO I don't mind hamburgers

YES NO I feel hamburgers are delicious

YES NO I want a hamburger

YES NO I am going now to eat a hamburger

I gave them all a yes. I yessed them all. My spell checker doesn't correct anything on this page.

See? I am useful for something, yes? Would you yes that?

big_big_bang_theory_fan · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 105

There is some confusion? I've seen it said it, written it. Not mainstream, but not ambiguous.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

Zimmer · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 229

It is ambiguous, mainly because to many saying "I yes that" sounds like bad English. It is certainly not mainstream, although it may be used more often. To me it sounds clumsy and a little stupid, but language is a fluid thing so that probably says more about my age, education, nationality etc. If it becomes normal, it will seem normal. Just don't think it is yet.[/quote]

I yes this.

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

Personally, I am more likely to "ok" something than "yes" it.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:09 am Post subject:

Sounds as though the authors were hard put to come up with a verb that begins with the letter Y. Perhaps they thought that to yearn, to yawn or to yield were too hard for learners, so they included a well-known word even though few English speakers would class it as a verb.

Has anyone seen this anywhere apart from in 501 Verbs?

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I don't think you guys are getting the real meaning here. Let me give a few examples of how this very unique and flexible word can be used:

The reason the bread didn't rise was because it hadn't been yessed.
I hate it when someone yesses in the elevator.
He yessed all over her stomach.
How could I eat that? It smells like it's been yessed.
He enjoyed yessing her in the morning while she cooked.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:10 am Post subject:

Sorry, I'm a little dim after a heavy night on the town... still don't get it.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

i no what you are saying.

allane · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:38 am Post subject:

Zimmer · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 229

Know, I don't no that he did. Very Happy

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:51 am Post subject:

I still no yes it... : (

Cairnsman · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 203

I have never, and probably never will, use 'yes' as a verb. But then again, I never use 'bad' as a noun, as in "Sorry! My bad!"

However, I wouldn't hesitate to use 'yes', and 'no', as nouns, as in "The results of the vote were 10 yeses and 5 nos".

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

I'd rather be yessed than loving it.