Basics. Negative Questions: Surprise, Invitations, and Opinions: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Negative Questions: Surprise, Invitations, and Opinions
In English, negative questions aren't just for gathering information—they are powerful tools for expressing emotion and intent. For example, you might use "Didn't you see the sign?" to express surprise, or "Won't you join us?" to make a polite invitation. They are typically formed by starting with a negative contraction like didn't, aren't, won't, or shouldn't.
This challenge will test your ability to form and use negative questions in various everyday (and slightly unusual) situations. You will practice using them to express shock over a stolen pizza slice, confirm the identity of a drummer, make polite midnight invitations, and suggest ideas when hopelessly lost in the woods.
You will work through 10 questions featuring a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
"Let's get straight to the truth. Weren't you at the bakery at midnight?"
The detective is using a negative question to confirm something he already believes is true. For the pronoun "you," the correct past tense form of the verb to be is were, making the negative question Weren't you.
"And isn't it true that your fingerprints were found on the last chocolate donut?"
We use isn't it to ask for agreement or confirmation about a current fact. Since the phrase is "it is true," the negative question form is isn't it true.
Question 2
Complete the friendly ghost's polite midnight invitation to the new homeowners.
"Hello there! _____ join me for a lovely cup of midnight tea in the attic?"
The correct answer is Won't you.
Negative questions starting with Won't you are a wonderfully polite and classic way to offer an invitation or make a suggestion.
Just like with other negative questions, the contraction n't attaches to the modal verb will (creating won't) and comes directly before the subject. "Will not you" is grammatically incorrect because not must follow the subject if it isn't contracted (Will you not...).
Question 3
The correct answers are Haven't you packed your bags yet? and Aren't you going to pack your bags?
Negative questions are often used to express surprise.
When we use the full (uncontracted) form, the word "not" must go after the subject (e.g., "Have you not packed..."), making "Have not you packed..." incorrect.
"Didn't you packed" is incorrect because the auxiliary "did" already shows the past tense; the main verb must be in its base form ("pack").
Question 4
Complete the conversation between two friends planning their weekend. Choose the correct phrases to form negative questions.
"I'm so bored, so why don't we go to that new alien-themed cafe downtown?"
"That sounds fun, but isn't it supposed to be really expensive?"
"I'm so bored, so why don't we go to that new alien-themed cafe downtown?"
"Why don't we + [base verb]" is a very common negative question structure used to make friendly suggestions.
"That sounds fun, but isn't it supposed to be really expensive?"
We use the "to be" verb ("isn't") with the phrase "supposed to be." Negative questions are often used to confirm something you think is true.
Question 5
"Wait a minute... Didn't you buy coffee yesterday?"
We use negative questions like Didn't you to express surprise or to check if an assumption is true. In informal English, the contraction n't always attaches to the auxiliary verb before the subject. "Did not you" is grammatically incorrect (it would need to be "Did you not").
"Well, why don't we just go to the café down the street instead of panicking?"
The phrase Why don't we...? is a very common negative question used to make a friendly suggestion.
Question 6
The correct answers are Shouldn't we ask someone for directions? and Isn't that map upside down?
Negative questions are an excellent way to politely express an opinion or seek agreement from others.
"Shouldn't we to ask..." is incorrect because modal verbs (like should) must be followed by a bare infinitive (without "to").
"Is not that map..." is incorrect because in formal uncontracted negative questions, "not" must follow the subject ("Is that map not upside down?").
Question 7
Help the concert-goer ask their friend to confirm what they are seeing.
"Look at the stage! _____ your brother playing the drums for the opening band?"
The correct answer is Isn't that.
Negative questions are frequently used when we expect the listener to agree with us or confirm something we think is true.
Since we are asking about "that" (a singular subject pointing to the person on stage), we use the singular verb Is. In a contracted negative question, it becomes Isn't that. "Is not that" has incorrect word order; the uncontracted form would be "Is that not".
Question 8
The correct answers are Won't you come inside for a bite? and Why don't you join me for dinner?
We often use negative questions starting with "Won't you..." or "Why don't you..." to make polite invitations or suggestions.
"Will not you..." is incorrect because the uncontracted "not" must follow the subject ("Will you not come...").
"Why you don't..." is incorrect because questions require subject-auxiliary inversion ("Why don't you...").
Question 9
Help the stressed party planner complete their text messages to a friend. Choose the correct words to complete the negative questions.
I'm officially panicking! Why didn't you order the cake yesterday?
Also, please tell me, aren't they arriving at 6 PM? We are not ready!
I'm officially panicking! Why didn't you order the cake yesterday?
Because "order" is a base verb referring to a finished time ("yesterday"), we use the past simple auxiliary "didn't". "Haven't" would need the past participle ("ordered"), and "weren't" does not fit with a base verb.
Also, please tell me, aren't they arriving at 6 PM? We are not ready!
Because "arriving" is a present participle (-ing verb), we use the "to be" auxiliary "aren't" to form the present continuous tense (used here for a future arrangement).
Question 10
Complete the hungry roommate's shocked complaint.
"You ate the last slice?! _____ the giant sticky note I left on the pizza box?"
The correct answer is Didn't you see.
We often use negative questions to express surprise or disbelief. When we use contractions, n't attaches to the auxiliary verb and comes before the subject (Didn't you see...?).
If we don't use a contraction, not must come after the subject (Did you not see...?), but the contracted form is much more common in conversation!