Guide to English grammar

2 We can leave out the auxiliary.
Who's got a hair drier? -Neil.
Who filled this crossword in? -Me. • 184(1b)

30 Negative questions

MY PHONE IS OUT OF ORDER
Claire: I'll tell you more when I see you next week.
Anna: Can’t you ring me?
Claire: No, unfortunately. My phone's still out of order.
Anna: Haven't they repaired it yet?
Claire: No. It's an awful nuisance. It's over a week now.
Anna: Why don’t you refuse to pay your bill?
Claire: That wouldn't make any difference, I don't expect.
Anna: Isn't there a rule? Don't they have to repair it within a certain period?
Claire: I don't know. Anyway, it's not working.

1 Use
1 A negative yes/no question often expresses surprise.

Can’t you ring me?
Haven't they repaired your phone?
The context suggests that the negative is true (they haven't repaired the phone). Claire has already explained that it is out of order. But Anna is surprised at this. She thinks they should have repaired it.

2 A negative question can be a complaint.

Can’t you be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate. (This means that you should be quiet.)
A negative question with why can also express surprise or a complaint.
Why haven't they repaired it?
Why can’t you be quiet?

3 We can use “Why don't/doesn't...?” for suggestions and “Why didn't...?” to criticize.

Why don't we take a break now? I'm tired.
Why didn’t you tell me this before? You should have told me.
We can use “why not + verb” instead of Why don't you... in a suggestion.
Why not use your credit card?

4 Negative questions with who, what and which usually request information.

Who hasn't returned this library book?
What can't you understand?
Which of the guests doesn't eat meat?

5 We can use a negative question to ask the hearer to agree that something is true.

Didn't I see you on television last night?
The meaning is similar to a tag question with a rising intonation. • 34(3)
I saw you on television last night, didn't I?

For a negative question form in exclamations, e.g. Wasn't that fun! • 20(3).

2 Form
1 We make a question negative by putting n't after the auxiliary.
Haven’t you finished yet? (NOT Have not you finished yet?)
Why doesn't the government take action?

NOTE
The negative of am I is aren't I.

Why aren't I getting paid for this?
A practical guide to English grammar 32
2 In more formal English not comes after the subject.
Have you not finished yet?
Why does the government not take action?

3 If the question word is the subject, n't or not comes after the auxiliary.

Who hasn't returned/has not returned this library book?

4 We can use other negative words.

Are you never going to finish?
Why does the government take no action?

NOTE
In informal speech the question can be without inversion.

You haven’t finished yet?

3 Yes/no answers

The answer no agrees that the negative is true. The answer yes means that the positive is true.
Haven't they repaired it yet? -No, it's an awful nuisance.
-Yes, they did it yesterday.