Negative questions

Structure:

To form negative questions we simply add n’t (not) after the auxiliary

Negative Questions
Aren’t you married?Don’t you know English?	PRESENT SIMPLE
Isn’t Juan working?	PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Wasn’t Felipe sick?Didn’t Mary study for the test?	PAST SIMPLE
Haven’t you sent the email	PRESENT PERFECT
Aren’t you going to the doctor tomorrow?	FUTURE

 

USE of negative questions

Compare the following questions

-          Are you sick?

This is a normal information question. I want to know if the person is sick in general.

-          Aren’t you sick?

In this case you have the idea that the person is sick. For example, let’s suppose that Mario arrived late to work and said he was sick. Later that afternoon you see him drinking a cold beer. You say “Hey Mario, aren’t you sick?”

We use the negative questions:  

• To show surprise :
  Didn’t you send the email? Why? That was so important.
• To show doubt; to check information
  -Aren’t you the Carlos? Don’t you teach English on-line? Wow! Nice to meet you.
  - Doesn’t she work for City Bank. I think I know her
• When you expect the listener to agree-Isn’t it a great day. It is so sunny and the sky is blue.
  - Doesn’t this food tase delicious? Yummy Yummy.