Aren't you happy?

Question

Aren't you happy?I am trying to feel the differece between 'Aren't you happy' and 'Are you happy'?When can I use 'Aren't you happy?' and what is the difference between them?Thank you so much as usual in advance!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

"Are you happy?" questions the listener as to whether or not he is happy. The speaker does not have any firm opinion about the listener's happiness or unhappiness. However, when one asks a question like this, there is apparently some reason to inquire about the listener's happiness. If the person is obviously happy, this type of question would not be asked.

"Aren't you happy? is used when the speaker had assumed the listener was happy, and has just received indications that he is not. So the speaker is asking: "You're not happy? (I thought you were, and am surprised that you seem to not be happy.)"

That is, neither of these questions would be asked if a person is obviously happy. Furthermore, if a person seems to be quite happy and you ask the first question above, this would be insulting, like you're saying the person is putting on a front and is just pretending to be happy.

A non-native speaker should be careful with these two questions, as they can be insulting if not asked in just the right situation.

GPY · Answer

"Aren't you happy?" suggests that there was some reason to think that the addressee might be or should be happy.

Aren't you happy?

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