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Understanding Negative Yes-No Questions

Negative questions are used to show surprise or when the speaker expects agreement. They are structured with a contracted negative auxiliary verb plus subject and main verb. Negative questions are used in the same contexts as general questions - to seek information, show surprise, or in exclamations when expecting agreement. Answers of "yes" or "no" to negative questions have opposite meanings than to general questions. Negative questions can also be formed with "why" to inquire about reasons or explanations.

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Pamela Paca
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267 views7 pages

Understanding Negative Yes-No Questions

Negative questions are used to show surprise or when the speaker expects agreement. They are structured with a contracted negative auxiliary verb plus subject and main verb. Negative questions are used in the same contexts as general questions - to seek information, show surprise, or in exclamations when expecting agreement. Answers of "yes" or "no" to negative questions have opposite meanings than to general questions. Negative questions can also be formed with "why" to inquire about reasons or explanations.

Uploaded by

Pamela Paca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

NEGATIVE YES-NO

QUESTIONS
When are negative and
interrogative questions
used at the same time?
 We use negative
questions to show
surprise and when we
expect the listener to
agree with us.
We use Negative Questions in English in the same cases as general
questions.
Almost everything we can ask with a general question we can ask using a
negative one.

General question: Are you going to work?


Negative question: Aren’t you going to work?

General question: Did John buy a car?


Negative question: Didn’t John buy a car?
STRUCTURE:

Contracted negative auxiliary + subject +verb+complements +?

• Didn’t you do your homework?


¿No hiciste tu tarea/tus deberes?
• Aren’t you taking the job?
¿No vas a aceptar el trabajo?
• Won’t you not buy a car?
¿No comprarás un auto/coche?
• Don’t you want to visit your aunt?
¿No quieres visitar a tu tía?
• Won’t they travel to Spain next month?
¿No viajarán a España el próximo año?
 1. TO SHOW SURPRISE (Para demostrar sorpresa)
Didn't you hear the bell? I rang it four times.
(¿No escuchaste el timbre? Toqué tres veces.)

 2. IN EXCLAMATIONS (En exclamaciones)


Doesn't that house look beautiful?
(No sé ve hermosa esa casa?)

 3. WHEN WE EXPECT THE LISTENER TO AGREE WITH


US
"Haven't we met somewhere before?" "Yes, I think we
have."
("¿No nos hemos visto antes en alguna parte?" "Sí,
creo que sí.")
 YES AND NO IN ANSWERS TO NEGATIVE QUESTIONS:

 Didn't Roberto pass his exams?


 Yes. (= Yes, he passed them.)
 No. (= No, he didn't pass them.)

 Isn’t Erika on diet?


 Yes. (= Yes, she is on diet.)
 No. (= No, she isn’t on diet.)
 NEGATIVE QUESTIONS WITH WHY...?:

 Why didn't you lock the door?


 (¿Por qué no cerraste la puerta con llave?)

 Why don't we go out to Harley's restaurant?


 (¿Por qué no vamos a cenar al restaurante Harley's)

 Why can't you help me?


 (¿Por qué no me puedes ayudar?)

 Why wasn't Claudia invited to the party?


 (¿Por qué no invitaron a Claudia?)

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