Negative Questions

Negative questions are of two kinds: contracted and uncontracted. They have different word order.

Contracted negative question

Word order: auxiliary verb + n't + subject

• Why don't you listen to me?
• Don't you understand?
• Hasn't she any friends to help her?
• Aren't they ready?

Uncontracted negative questions

Uncontracted negative questions are more formal than contracted negative questions.

Word order: auxiliary verb + subject + not

• Why do you not listen to me?
• Do you not understand?
• Has she not any friends to help her?
• Are they not ready?

Contracted negative questions beginning with Won't you ...? Wouldn't you...? or Why don't you ...? are very common in polite requests, invitations, offers, complaints and criticisms.

• Wouldn't you like a cup of coffee?
• Why don't you come and stay with us?

In a reply to a negative question, yes suggests a positive answer, and no suggests a negative answer.

• 'Haven't you written to her?' 'Yes.' (= I have written to her.)
• 'Haven't you told her about us?' 'No.' (= I haven't told her about you.)

You can find English Grammar And Writing lessons here

For English Grammar Worksheets visit this page

Sections in this article

Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Can
May and Can: differences
Could
May
Might
Will
Would
Shall
Should
Should: other uses
Must
Must: uses
Must and have to: The Difference
Ought to
Need
Had better
Should, Ought and Must: The difference