Questions & Negation

Beginner

Learn how to ask questions and make negative statements in English.

1. Yes/No Questions

Use auxiliary verbs (do/does/did, am/is/are, have/has, will, etc.) before the subject.

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Do you like coffee?
Auxiliary + subject + verb
✗
You like coffee?
Need auxiliary verb for questions

2. WH- Questions

Start with question words (what, where, when, why, how, who, which) + auxiliary + subject + verb.

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What did you do yesterday?
WH- word + auxiliary + subject + verb
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Who is calling?
No auxiliary when WH- word is subject

3. Negation

Use "not" after auxiliary verbs (do/does/did, am/is/are, have/has, will, etc.).

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I don't like coffee. / She isn't coming.
Auxiliary + not + main verb
✗
I no like coffee.
Don't use "no" before verbs

4. Tag Questions

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of statements for confirmation. Use opposite polarity (positive statement → negative tag, negative statement → positive tag).

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You like pizza, don't you?
Positive statement + negative tag
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She can't drive, can she?
Negative statement + positive tag

5. Question Words

Different question words ask for different types of information.

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What - thing/action: What are you doing?
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Where - place: Where do you live?
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When - time: When is the meeting?
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Why - reason: Why are you late?
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How - manner: How did you do that?

Practice: Questions & Negation

1. Which is correct?

2. Choose the correct question:

3. Which negative form is correct?

4. Complete the tag question: "You're coming to the party, _____?"

5. Which question is correct?

6. Choose the correct negative:

Common Auxiliary Verbs

Verb Question Form Negative Form
be (present) Are you...? / Is he...? I'm not / You aren't / He isn't
do (present) Do you...? / Does she...? I don't / She doesn't
did (past) Did you...? I didn't / We didn't
have (present) Have you...? / Has he...? I haven't / He hasn't
will (future) Will you...? I won't / They won't
can (modal) Can you...? I can't / She can't