Negative Questions: Don’t You Want to Come?
By the end: I can recognise an expectation in a negative question and answer clearly.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Check an expectation
A negative question can suggest that the speaker expected a positive answer. Context tells us whether it is friendly, surprised or insistent.
Don’t you want to come?
Isn’t the café open today?
Respond with the fact
In standard English, yes plus a positive clause confirms the positive fact; no plus a negative clause denies it. Add the clause to avoid confusion.
Don’t you drive? Yes, I do.
Aren’t you ready? No, I’m not.
Choose wording carefully
Negative questions can sound like suggestions or challenges. A neutral positive question may be better when you do not want to signal an expectation.
Couldn’t we meet tomorrow instead?
Do you want to join us?
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.
1. Make a negative question: You work here? Use don’t.
Compare a model and explanation
Don’t you work here?
Put don’t before the subject.
2. Make a negative question with be: The shop is open? Use isn’t.
Compare a model and explanation
Isn’t the shop open?
Use isn’t before the subject.
3. Answer Don’t you like tea? when you like tea.
Compare a model and explanation
Yes, I do like tea.
State the positive fact clearly.
4. Answer Can’t you swim? when you cannot swim.
Compare a model and explanation
No, I can’t swim.
State the negative fact clearly.
5. Correct: Doesn’t you want one?
Compare a model and explanation
Don’t you want one?
You takes don’t.
6. Make Don’t you need help? more neutral.
Compare a model and explanation
Do you need help?
Remove the negative expectation marker.
7. Can Isn’t that interesting? have different tones in different contexts?
Compare a model and explanation
Yes.
Words alone do not settle all attitudes.
8. Write a negative suggestion and a neutral alternative.
Compare a model and explanation
Couldn’t we start earlier? Could we start earlier?
Both can work, with different possible expectations.
A short conversation
Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Don’t you want to come with us?
B: Yes, I do. I just need to finish this message.
A: Aren’t you ready yet?
B: No, not quite. I’ll be ready in two minutes.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking 1
Ask two negative questions based on clear expectations.
Reveal a possible response
Isn’t the shop open today? Don’t you work on Fridays?
Success check: Give a brief context for each expectation.
Speaking 2
Answer one negative question positively and one negatively with full clauses.
Reveal a possible response
Don’t you like music? Yes, I do. Can’t you drive? No, I can’t.
Success check: Make the actual facts unambiguous.
Put it all together
Role-play a changed arrangement. Use a negative question, a clear reply and a neutral reformulation.
Reveal a possible response
Aren’t you coming at six? No, I’m coming at seven. Is seven still OK? Yes, it is.
Success check: Do not score tone without verified audio and context.
Take it with you
I can recognise an expectation in a negative question and answer clearly.