In this lesson, we will focus on negative questions in the English language.
A question is an interrogative expression often used to find out or confirmation information. There are a lot of different types of questions in English such as object, subject, duration, tag, negative, indirect, open, closed, etc… .
A negative question is a grammatical structure in which the negative ‘not’ is placed after the auxiliary verb in a question.
Negative questions are mostly used to ask for agreement or check/confirm some information that we believe is true. Other functions of negative questions are to show mild disagreements, give opinions, make suggestions, and offer invitations.
In a negative question, the auxiliary verb and negative word ‘not’ can be in a contracted form or a long form, which is not contracted. There is a difference in the word order when using the contracted form and the long form, which is not contracted.
When using the contracted form, the negative word ‘not’ is placed after the auxiliary verb. This form is considered to be an informal style.
informal style
| Negative | Doesn’t the shopping center open at 10 o’clock? | |
| Questions | Isn’t this supplier going to be more expensive than our previous suppliers? | |
| Wouldn’t it be better to have the production meeting in meeting room A? |
When using the form, which is not contracted, the negative word ‘not’ is placed after the subject of the question. This form is considered to be a formal style.
formal style
| Negative | Have we not provided you with the best service since our agreement began? | |
| Questions | Does he not understand why we are rapidly losing our loyal customers? | |
| Did you not follow up with the customers about their concerns? |