Negative Questions Exercise

Negative Questions Exercise

When learning English, understanding how to form and use negative questions is essential. They can express surprise, seek confirmation, or politely offer suggestions. In this blog, we’ll break down what negative questions are, how to form them, and give you exercises to practice.

What Are Negative Questions?

Negative questions are interrogative sentences that include a negative word like not. They’re often used to express surprise, disagreement, or to make suggestions more politely.

Example:

• Regular Question: Are you coming?
• Negative Question: Aren’t you coming?

How to Form Negative Questions

Negative questions usually follow two structures:

1. Contracted Form:

• Auxiliary/Helping verb + n’t + subject + main verb
• Example:
  • Don’t you like pizza?
  • Isn’t she going to school today?

2. Full Form:

• Helping verb + subject + not + main verb
• Example:
  • Do you not like pizza?
  • Is she not going to school today?

⚠️ Note: The contracted form is more common in spoken English. The full form sounds more formal or emphasizes the “not.”

Uses of Negative Questions

1. Expressing Surprise or Disbelief

• Didn’t you hear the news?
• Isn’t it obvious?

2. Confirming Information

• Hasn’t she already left?
• Don’t you have the key?

3. Making Polite Suggestions or Offers

• Wouldn’t you like some coffee?
• Why don’t we go for a walk?

Negative Questions Quiz/Exercise

Rewrite These Sentences into Negative Questions

1. You like chocolate.
2. She is coming with us.
3. They have finished their work.
4. He knows the answer.
5. You can help me.

Answers:

1. Don’t you like chocolate?
2. Isn’t she coming with us?
3. Haven’t they finished their work?
4. Doesn’t he know the answer?
5. Can’t you help me?

Choose the Correct Negative Question

1. (Didn’t / Don’t) you go to the meeting yesterday?
2. (Isn’t / Doesn’t) she your teacher?
3. (Haven’t / Hasn’t) they arrived yet?
4. (Won’t / Doesn’t) he be late if he leaves now?
5. (Aren’t / Isn’t) we supposed to bring lunch?

Answers:

1. Didn’t you go to the meeting yesterday?
2. Isn’t she your teacher?
3. Haven’t they arrived yet?
4. Won’t he be late if he leaves now?
5. Aren’t we supposed to bring lunch?

Fill in the blanks with correct negative questions

1. _______ you want to join us?
2. Why _______ we try something new?
3. _______ she coming tonight?
4. _______ you finished your homework?
5. _______ he tell you the truth?

Answers:

1. Don’t
2. don’t
3. Isn’t
4. Haven’t
5. Didn’t

Mastering negative questions can help you sound more natural and polite in English conversations. Practice regularly, listen to native speakers, and soon you’ll be using negative questions with confidence!

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