A negative question starts with a negative helper verb: Don't you...? Isn't it...? Didn't she...? It's not a neutral question. It shows what you already think or expect, so we use it to express surprise, to gently persuade, to check something we believe, or to make a suggestion.
The pattern
Don't you like spicy food?
Why don't you take the day off?
01Surprise: I expected something else
Use a negative question when something surprises you because you expected the opposite. Stress the helper verb: Aren't you hungry? You haven't eaten all day! The main verb after don't, doesn't or didn't stays in the base form.
- Don't you have a car? I thought you drove here.
- Isn't Ryan coming? He said he would.
- Haven't you ever been to a baseball game?
- Can't you sleep? It's three in the morning.
02Persuading and checking
A negative question can invite the listener to agree with you: Isn't this view amazing? It works more like a comment than a real question.
Use it also to check something you believe is true: Didn't we meet at Jenna's party? You expect the answer yes.
- Wouldn't it be easier to take the train?
- Isn't that the guy from the coffee shop?
- Didn't you say the meeting was at ten?
- Don't you think we should ask first?
03Suggestions with Why don't you...?
Why don't you...? and Why don't we...? are friendly suggestions, not questions about reasons. Why not + the base verb is a shorter, more direct version.
- Why don't you call the doctor tomorrow?
- Why don't we order in tonight?
- Why not ask your manager for a raise?
04Answering yes or no
Answer the facts, not the grammar of the question. If the fact is positive, say yes. If the fact is negative, say no. Some languages do the opposite, so this trips up a lot of learners. Add a short follow-up so nobody is confused.
| Question | The fact | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Aren't you tired? | I'm tired. | Yes, I am. |
| Aren't you tired? | I'm not tired. | No, I'm not. |
| Didn't you get my message? | I got it. | Yes, I did. Sorry! |
| Didn't you get my message? | I didn't get it. | No, I didn't. |
05Common mistakes
Not you like coffee?
Don't you like coffee?
Start with the negative helper verb: Don't you...?
Didn't you lock the door? Yes, I didn't.
Didn't you lock the door? No, I didn't.
Answer the fact: you didn't lock it, so say no.
Why you don't take a break?
Why don't you take a break?
Keep question order: why + don't + you.
Doesn't she lives here?
Doesn't she live here?
After doesn't, use the base form of the verb.