NEGATIVE QUESTIONS

• They can be used in all verb forms. They are used

for the following 3 reasons:

1. When we want someone to agree with us, even

though the other person might have a different
opinion.

Isn´t this jacket great?

2. To suggest an idea

This dress looks good on you. Don´t you think?

You should buy it.

3. To express surprise

Don´t you like my new car?

 NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
STRUCTURE: Change the auxiliaries, modals, and verb
to be to the negative form. USE CONTRACTED
FORMS
Isn´t he sad?
Didn´t they come on time?
Haven´t you heard?
Won’t they come later?
Shouldn’t you do it now?
 EXAMPLES
• A: I didn’t eat lunch earlier this afternoon.
B: Why not? Didn’t you have enough time?
A: No, I didn’t. I was too busy on the phone.
• A: I can’t come to the party tomorrow night.
B: Why not? Why can’t you come to the
party?
B: Don’t you want to come?
A: Because I already have plans.
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS

• A: I don’t like to eat pizza.

• B: Why not?
• B:Why don’t you like pizza? / Don’t you like
pepperoni? / etc.
• Are you ready for the test tomorrow?
• B: No, I’m not
• A: Why not?________________
MAKE NEGATIVE SENTENCES WITH
THE FOLLOWING IDEAS.
• That vocabulary exercise looks very familiar.
• I won’t be in class tomorrow.
• I don’t like broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers,
or beans!
• John really wants to have a pet, but he’s
allergic to cats and dogs.
• Jason hasn’t found a job yet.
• Didn’t we do the same exercise last week? /
Didn’t we do this before?
• Why won’t you be here? / Why aren’t you
coming? / etc
• Don’t you like vegetables?
• Why doesn´t he get other kind of pet?
• Why hasn’t he found a job yet? Hasn’t he
asked someone to recommend his Resume?
 TAG QUESTIONS
• To form a TAG QUESTION, we use the
AUXILIARY of THE MAIN VERB in the sentence.
• When the main verb is AFFIRMATIVE, the tag
question is NEGATIVE.
– They were at the party, weren’t they?
• When the main verb is NEGATIVE, the tag
question is AFFIRMATIVE.
– He didn’t stay late, did he?
• They live in London, …………………?
• She's Italian,……………..?
• We're working tomorrow, aren't we?
• It was cold yesterday, ……………..?
• He went to the party last night, didn't he?
• We were waiting at the station, ……………..?
• They've been to Japan, haven't they?
• She's been studying a lot recently, ……………?
• He had forgotten his wallet, hadn't he?
• We'd been working, hadn't we?
• She'll come at six, won't she?
• They'll be arriving soon, won't they?
• They'll have finished before nine, won't they?
• He can help, can't he?
• John must stay, mustn't he?
• He should know, shouldn’t he?