13.2 Alternative negative forms and negative questions
13.2C Negative questions: 'Can't you ...?' [> LEG 13.14-16]
1 In negative questions, the word order of the full form is different from the short form:
full form: Did he not explain the situation to you?
short form: Didn't he explain the situation to you?
We normally use the short form in conversation and the full form only for emphasis.2 Depending on the stress and intonation we use, we can:- express disbelief, surprise:
- invite the answer 'Yes':
- persuade:
- express annoyance:
- make exclamations:
Can't you really ride a bicycle?
Don't you remember our holiday in Spain?
Won't you please help me?
Can't you ever shut the door behind you?
Isn't it hot in here!Write: Rewrite these negative questions using short forms.1 Am I not too early? [> Ю.1В] ..Ac^.Ltm.ÇQSty.l.
2 Is she not very well?
3 Are those answers not wrong?
4 Is he not waiting for you?
5 Are they not living in Canada?
6 Was she not a famous actress?
7 Were you not at my old school?
8 Are you not going to be there?
9 Can you not walk faster?
10 Could you not do this for me?
11 Do you not like fish?
12 Does she not go to church?
13 Did he not enjoy the film?
14 Have you not finished yet?
15 Has he not gone yet?
16 Have I not been invited?
17 Should you not let him know?
18 Am I not invited?13.20 Context
Write: Put in anything, anywhere, everyone, hardly ever, no, no one, nothing.NOT YETI
A Yeti is supposed to be a strange creature that lives in the Himalayas. Nearly^1 S4W.tyW??. has
heard of Yetis, but^2 has actually seen one. Recently, a party of climbers went up
Mount Jaonli looking for Yetis. Unlike more famous mountains, Jaonli has^3 been
climbed. The party saw^4 Yetis^5 There was a moment's
excitement one night when a climber heard a strange, two-note sound. He rushed out of his tent and
asked his Tibetan guide, Chewang Thundup, if he had heard^6 'No, I heard(^7) ' the guide replied. 'But I just heard a strange sound,' the climber said. 'That was
no Yeti,' Chewang laughed. 'It was me, blowing my nose!'
. a strange two-note sound