OXFORDPRACTICEGRAMMAR41 NEGATIVE QUESTIONS B Form We make a question negative by putting n't after the auxiliary (e.g have, does). POSITIVE Have you done it yet? What does the advert tell you? Who eats meat? What went wrong? NEGATIVE Haven't you done it yet? What doesn't the advert tell you? Who doesn't eat meat? What didn't go wrong? C The use of negative yes/no questions A negative yes/no question often expresses surprise. Haven't you put those shelves up yet? (= I am surprised that you haven't yet.) Don't the children want the ice-cream? (= I am surprised that they don't want it.) A question with can't can be a complaint or an impolite request. Can't you sit down? You're blocking my view. We can also use a negative yes/no question instead of a statement and a tag. Aren't you a friend of Harriet's? (= You're a friend of Harriet's, aren't you?) D Yes/no answers The answer yes means that the positive is true, and no means that the negative is true. Haven t you repaired the car yet? ~ Yes, I did it yesterday. Haven t you repaired the car yet? ~ No, sorry. I haven't had time. E The use of negative wh-questions We can use Why don't .? for a suggestion. Why don't you put the shelves up now? ~ Well, all right. Why don't we sit on the balcony? ~ Good idea. We can use Why didn't .? to criticize. We'll have to stand now. Why didn't you book seats for us? (= You should have booked seats for us.] We can also use a wh-question to ask for information. Who hasn't checked their baggage in? ~ Oh, I haven't. Sorry. What don't you understand? ~ This paragraph here. A Introduction Laura asks two negative questions. The first expresses surprise that Trevor hasn't put the shelves up yet. The second is a suggestion that he should put them up now. 41 EXERCISES 1 Negative yes/no questions (B-C) What would you say in these situations? Use negative yes/no questions. ► You are surprised to learn that Rita doesn't like football. Don't you like football, Rita ? 1 You find it surprising that Melanie can't drive. 2 It's a surprise that Rachel won't be at the disco. 3 You find out that surprisingly Nick hasn't got a television. Negative yes/no questions (B-C) Complete the conversations using the words in the brackets. ► Mike: I walked home from the town centre, (take / bus) Harriet: You mean you walked all the way? Didn't you take a bus ? 1 Vicky: I think I'd like to lie down for a while, (feel / well) Rachel: Oh, dear. . 2 Matthew: I'm looking forward to getting the photos you've sent, (arrive / yet) Richard: I sent them a week ago 3 David: I saw Rita, but she walked straight past me. (say / hello) Melanie: Without speaking to you? . 4 Andrew: I never sit by the pool. I hate water, (swim) Emma: Really? . . Yes/no answers (D) Put in yes or no. ► Didn't Mike stop and give you a lift? ~ No, he didn't, but maybe he didn't see me. 1 Aren't you tired after working all day? ~ . ,1 feel fine. 2 Didn't you write the number down? ~……………… , but I've lost the piece of paper. 3 Haven't you got an umbrella? ~ , it's here in my bag. 4 Couldn't you get in to the opera? ~ . , we didn't have tickets. Why not? (B, E) Reporter Kitty Beamish is investigating an accident at the Magic World theme park. A ride crashed, and people were injured. This is what Kitty has found out. ► The people on the ride didn't get enough help. 1 The staff didn't know what to do. 2 They couldn't stop the ride. What questions beginning with why does Kitty ask? ► Why didn't the people on the ride get enough help ? 1 2 ………………………………………………… 3 ……………………………………………………………………………… ………. . 4 ……………………………………………………………………………… ……… 5 ……………………………………………………………………………… ……… . 3 They aren't trained in first aid. 4 The ambulance wasn't called immediately. 5 The doctor didn't have a mobile phone. . OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR 41 NEGATIVE QUESTIONS B Form We make a question negative by putting. shelves up yet. The second is a suggestion that he should put them up now. 41 EXERCISES 1 Negative yes/no questions (B-C) What would you say in these situations?