Negative questions

Negative questions

Why do we use negative yes-no questions?

Negative yes-no questions are question forms that begin with a negative helping verb such as aren't, isn't, can't, don't, didn't.

We usually use this type of question to check something we believe or expect to be true. For instance if we believe that Jim is a happy person, we can say: Isn't he happy?

How do we answer a negative yes-no question?

We answer “no” when the answer is negative, and “yes” when the answer is positive.

Isn’t he happy?

→ No, he isn’t.

→ Yes, he is.

They can't speak English. → Can't they speak English?

• Turn the negative statement into a negative question.

  
  

• He isn't happy. → Isn't he happy?

• You aren't hungry. → Aren't you hungry?

• You don't like bananas. → Don't you like bananas?

• She didn't come. → Didn't she come?

• They can't speak English. → Can't they speak English?