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Pcgasparetto Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Negative interrogative sentences

Guys, I always thought the word "not" would always follow the auxiliary verb, even in interrogative sentences, just like that:

- Is not he your friend?
- Do not you like pizza?
- Have not you been to the party?
- Will not you come alone?
- Could not you go by taxi?

Then, I came to know (and this is what I want to know) that the word "not" follows the auxiliary verb only when it's contracted, just like that:

- Isn't he your friend?
- Don't you like pizza?
- Haven't you been to the party?
- Won't you come alone?
- Couldn't you go by taxi?

If it's not contracted, it must come after the subject, so the correct would be just like that:

- Is he not your friend?
- Do you not like pizza?
- Have you not been to the party?
- Will you not come alone?
- Could you not go by taxi?

Please... Is that truuuuueee??? OMG! (lol)

Thanks for your attention.

PC
  

Top answer

pcgasparetto If it's not contracted, it must come after the subject, so the correct would be just like that: - Is he not your friend? It's true. The negative not is like a small child.

— CalifJim

  • pcgasparetto If it's not contracted, it must come after the subject, so the correct would be just like that: - Is he not your friend?
  • It's true.
  • The negative not is like a small child.
  • It's not allowed to cross the bridge over the subject alone.
  • It has to hold the hand of its parent verb (in contracted form).
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30 Answers
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pcgasparettoIf it's not contracted, it must come after the subject, so the correct would be just like that:
- Is he not your friend?
...Is that truueee???It's true. The negative not is like a small child. It's not allowed to cross the bridge over the subject alone. It has to hold the hand of its parent verb (in contracted form).

He is not you
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Gosh! I've spoken (learnt) English for 15 years, and I've never seen or listened to it before. I mean, in fact, I have, but I really thought it was wrong. I thought people were writing or speaking wrongly, misusing grammar. But it's the other way around... Now, I see that "I" was wrong all the time. Gee! (lol)

Thanks a lot, ClifJim. I will never speak wrongly again!
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Holy Mary! I didn't know that.

I've always heard and seen contracted form and didn't even imagine such thing.

Is that applied to all verbal tenses and auxiliary verbs (be, do, have, modals)? Really? I mean, that's the real rule?!
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AnonymousIs that applied to all verbal tenses and auxiliary verbs (be, do, have, modals)? Really? I mean, that's the real rule?!
Yes. It doesn't matter which auxiliary takes n't over the subject.

Haven't you noticed that?
Doesn't he know that?
Can't they do that?
Aren't you sleepy yet?

Not:
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CalifJim, thanks for your reply. But, I think I didn't make myself clear on my previous question. I've always used contracted form, as you mentioned...

Haven't you noticed that?
Doesn't he know that?
Can't they do that?
Aren't you sleepy yet?

When I asked if the rule is applied to all verbal tenses and auxiliary verbs, actually I meant the word "not" after the subjec
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AnonymousHave you NOT noticed that?
Does he NOT know that?
Can they NOT do that?
Are you NOT sleepy yet?
All OK, but not used in casual conversation except for emphasis. They are formal.

CJ
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hey.. i need to know how will ou answer negative interrogative sentences. Eg. for the question "Don't you like pizza?", if I dont like pizza, i'll reply "No, I don't like pizza.". Is this correct?
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Anonymousfor the question "Don't you like pizza?", if I dont like pizza, i'll reply "No, I don't like pizza.". Is this correct?
Yes. That's right.

CJ

In the future please start a new thread when your question is not directly related to the material being discussed in this thread.

CJ
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Hi all

So in the case below, which option would be better?

Isn't our society suffering the consequences of violent TV Shows?

Is our society not suffering the consequences of violent TV Shows?

Is not our society suffering the consequences of violent TV shows?

Thanks.

Yosi
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Isn't our society suffering the consequences of violent TV Shows?
and
Is our society not suffering the consequences of violent TV Shows?
are correct answers.
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