Table of Contents

Negative questions

Introduction

femme woman cheveux roux red hair livre book lire read lunettes glasses   "Don't you want to watch this film with me?"  "No, thanks. I want to finish my book."


Definition

These are closed questions which use negative rather than affirmative verbs. They can be used in different tenses.


Construction

'To be'

Auxiliary (modal) verbs

Other verbs

 

'be' + 'not' + subject

 

Aren't you hungry?

 

Wasn't it interesting?

 

Isn't there any cake?

 

 

auxiliary + 'not' + subject + main verb

 

Won't we finish on time?

 

Haven't you had lunch?

 

Can't you swim?

 

'do' + 'not' + subject + verb

 

Didn't he go to the seminar?

 

Don't you like skiing?

 

Doesn't he work in Toulouse?


 

'be' + 'not' + subject

 

Aren't you hungry?

 

Wasn't it interesting?

 

Isn't there any cake?

 

 

auxiliary + 'not' + subject + main verb

 

Won't we finish on time?

 

Haven't you had lunch?

 

Can't you swim?

 

'do' + 'not' + subject + verb

 

Didn't he go to the seminar?

 

Don't you like skiing?

 

Doesn't he work in Toulouse?


Note that

1.  We can also use a non-contracted form, especially if we want to be more emphatic or show how we feel. For example, to show:


Surprise:

Are you not hungry?

Do you not like skiing?

Can you not swim?


Anger or frustration:

Have you still not finished?

Are you not listening to me?

Did he not go to the seminar after all?


2.  Other negative words are possible. For example:

Is there no cake?


Can no one here find a solution?


Do you never eat cheese?

Is there no cake?

Can no one here find a solution?


Do you never eat cheese?


Uses

Use

Examples

 

To show surprise or disappointment

 

 

Didn't you enjoy your holiday?

 

Wasn't there any internet access in the room? How unprofessional!

 

Aren't you going to apply for the job? - you're perfect for it.

 

Haven't you ever been in a plane?

 

 

Looking for confirmation

 

Didn't you work with him in the IT department?

 

Haven't we already talked about this?

 

Wouldn't it be better to wait until next week?

 

 

To express an opinion

 

Note that these are sometimes called rhetorical questions and might be seen with an exclamation mark rather than a question mark.

 

 

Isn't this weather terrible?

 

Wasn't that a good speech?

 

Hasn't he done a great job?


Note that negative questions can sound aggressive, sarcastic or disapproving - in fact, this is sometimes the intention - so be careful. For example:

Aren't you going to offer me a coffee?

Haven't you checked your email today?

Responses to negative questions

When we use negative questions, we are expecting a certain response- we think we know what it will be - but whether this is 'yes' or 'no' depends on the kind of question. Of course, we might not get the answer we're expecting. For example:

 

Don't you have any money? — No, I don't (have any money). [expected answer]
Don't you have any money? — Yes, I do (have some money). [possible but not expected answer]

 

Here are some examples based on the uses above:

 

Use

Expected and likely response -we agree with the speaker

Other possible responses - not expected by the speaker

 

Surprise or disappointment

 

"Didn't you enjoy your holiday?"

 

"No, it was a disaster!"

 

 

Didn't you enjoy your holiday?

 

"Yes, it was great. Why did you think that?"

 

 

Confirmation

 

"Didn't you work with him in the IT department?"

 

"Yes, I did. It was when we first joined the company."

 

 

"Didn't you work with him in the IT department?"

 

"No, it was in R&D."

 

 

Opinion

 

"Isn't this weather terrible?"

 

"Yes, it is. I can't wait for the summer."

 

 

"Isn't this weather terrible?"

 

"Not really. I actually like the rain."

 

 

 


Examples

 tea, man, woman, homme, femme old couple

"Oh, don't you like milk in your tea?"

"No, thanks. I prefer it black."

 going out women getting ready make-up mirror

"Isn't Oliver going to be there tonight?"

"No, he isn't. You'll have to wait till Vincent's party to see him."

greetings, greeting, meeting hand shake serrer main

"You look familiar - weren't you at the conference in London last year?

"Yes, that's right. I remember you too."

dad, baby papa bebe

"Doesn't he look like his father?"

"Yes, they have the same nose!"

business meeting hotel team réunion équipe Asian 

"Aren't we going to have dinner?!"

"Yes, but we really need to finish this first."

 homme ennui s

"Isn't it great having a job that involves travelling?"

"Not for me. I miss my family too much."