Negative Questions

A2 · ElementaryNegatives

Don't you have a car? Why don't we order pizza? A negative question inverts the contracted auxiliary, not the full 'not', in front of the subject.

What you'll learn

A negative question inverts the contracted auxiliary + n't (don't, isn't, didn't, wouldn't...) in front of the subject
'Do not you...?' is not how modern English forms this — the auxiliary and n't must be contracted before they move
A negative wh-question puts the question word first, then the same inverted contracted auxiliary: Why don't you..., Why didn't she...
'Why don't we/you...?' is also the everyday pattern for a suggestion or invitation, not only a real question

Inverting the contracted negative

A negative question is built the same way as any other question — invert the auxiliary and the subject — except the auxiliary carries its contracted n't with it as it moves.

"Don't you have a car?"

"Isn't she coming tonight?"

The auxiliary must be contracted first

You can't split the auxiliary and 'not' apart during inversion — 'Do not you have a car?' isn't how modern English builds this. The auxiliary and n't move together as one contracted unit.

"Didn't they call you?"

"Aren't you tired?"

Negative wh-questions

The same inverted, contracted auxiliary appears after a question word too — the question word goes first, then the inverted negative auxiliary and the subject.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why doesn't he answer his phone?"

'Why don't we/you...?' for suggestions

'Why don't we...?' and 'Why don't you...?' are also the everyday way to offer a suggestion or invitation — not a real question about a reason at all.

"Why don't we order pizza?"

"Why don't you join us?"

Real English

"Can't you swim?"

"Why don't you call her?"

"Won't they be upset?"

"Shouldn't we check the map?"

Watch out

✗Do not you have a car?

✓Don't you have a car?

The auxiliary and 'not' contract into one word (don't) before inverting — 'not' can't sit uncontracted after the subject like this.

✗Why you didn't tell me?

✓Why didn't you tell me?

A negative wh-question still inverts the auxiliary and subject after the question word, exactly like a positive one.

✗Not did they call you?

✓Didn't they call you?

'Not' never inverts by itself — it has to be contracted onto the auxiliary first, and that whole unit moves together.

Real life — Planning a weekend

"I have no idea what to do this weekend."

"Why don't we go hiking? Didn't we already pay for that trail pass?"

"Oh, right! Isn't the weather supposed to be nice too?"

"Exactly. Wouldn't it be nice to finally use it?"

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question — a suggestion.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct negative wh-question

Choose the correct negative wh-question.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct negative question

Choose the correct negative question — a polite offer.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct negative wh-question

Choose the correct negative wh-question.

Exercise 9 · Turn into a negative question

Turn into a negative question: 'You like coffee.'

Exercise 10 · Turn into a suggestion

Turn into a suggestion with 'Why don't...?': 'Let's watch a movie.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

Doesn't the store open at nine?

Why don't we go for a walk?

Isn't your flight tomorrow?

Why don't you join us?

Didn't we already pay for this?

Wouldn't you like to sit down?

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct negative question.

You learned

A negative question inverts the contracted auxiliary + n't in front of the subject.
The auxiliary and 'not' must contract before inverting — 'Do not you...?' isn't correct.
A negative wh-question puts the question word first, then the same inverted contracted auxiliary.
'Why don't we/you...?' is also the everyday pattern for a suggestion or invitation.

IntermediateNegatives

Double Negatives

Learn why standard English never combines a negative verb with a no-word — and how to fix the classic 'I don't have no money' mistake.

BeginnerNegatives

No, Never, Nobody and Nothing

Learn the 'no-words' — no, never, nobody, nothing, nowhere — a second, equally natural way to make an English sentence negative.

BeginnerNegatives

Negative Sentences with Not

Learn how to make an English sentence negative — 'not' always needs a helping verb (be, do/does/did, or a modal) to attach to.

ElementaryImperatives

Giving Instructions

Learn how to combine imperatives with sequencing words — first, then, next, after that, finally — to give clear, multi-step instructions.