Page 377 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

7
368
1
6
question tags: You don't ..., do you?
After negative clauses, question tags (see 487-488) are not negative.
You don't work on Sundays, do you?
You seldom work on Saturdays, do you? (NOT ¥Btt seltkJm W61* Bn
SettttFMYS, tltm't Yfm?) She never smiled, did she?
The same thing happens after clauses with little and few (see 329).
There's little point in doing anything about it, is there? (NOT ••• isn't t,~ere?) He has few reasons for staying, has he?
'non-affirmative' words: any etc
We do not usually use some, somebody etc in negative clauses. Instead, we use the 'non-affirmative' words any, anybody etc. (see 381). Compare:
I've found some mushrooms. 1 haven't found any mushrooms.
negative structures (2): negative questions
structure
Contracted and uncontracted negative questions have different word order. (Uncontracted negative questions are usually formal.)
auxiliary verb + n't + subject Doesn't she understand?
Why haven't you booked your holiday yet? auxiliary verb + subject + not
Does she not understand?
Why have you not booked your holiday yet?
Non-auxiliary have and be go in the same position as auxiliary verbs.
Hasn't she any friends to help her? Aren't you ready?
Have they not at least a room to stay in? Is Mrs Allen not at home?
two meanings
Negative questions can have two different kinds of meaning. It is usually clear from the situation and context which kind of question is being asked.
'It's true that ..., isn't it?'
A negative question can ask for confirmation of a positive belief. In this case the question expects the answer Yes, and means 'It's true that ... , isn't it?'
Didn't you go and see Helen yesterday? How is she?
(= I believe you went and saw Helen yesterday ...)
Expressions of opinion can be made less definite by expressing them as negative questions (so that they ask for agreement).
Wouldn't it be better to switch the lights on?
Negative questions of this kind are common in exclamations (see 195) and rhetorical questions (see 482).
Isn't it a lovely day!
She's growing up to be a lovely person. '" Yes, isn't she!
Isn't the answer obvious? (= Of course the answer is obvious.) ...
2
a
negative structures (2): negative questions 368
page 345