Unit 4

Negatives and Questions

Question 1
How do we form negatives with auxiliaries like be, have, and modal verbs?
Answer
We form negatives by adding not/n't after the auxiliary or modal verb
(e.g., We are not, We aren't, We haven't).
Question 2
In formal situations, which form of negation do we use? Can you give an
example?
Answer
In formal situations, we use the full form not (e.g., Dogs are not allowed
in city parks).
Question 3
How do we typically form contractions with not in informal situations?
Answer
In informal situations, we either
contract not (e.g., They aren't listening)
contract the auxiliary (e.g., We're not ready yet).
Question 4
How do we form negatives with other verbs that are not auxiliaries or
modals?
Give example(s)
Answer
We use do + not/n't before the base form of the verb
e.g., They don't remember,
e.g., It does not work.
Question 5
Why can’t we use negative forms of do with modal verbs?
Give example.
Answer
Modal verbs form negatives on their own without do.
E.g, I can't swim (NOT I don't can swim).
Question 6
Where do we place not in sentences with infinitives and gerunds?
Give examples for both.
Answer
We place not before the infinitive or gerund
e.g., He pretended not to see us
e.g., I enjoyed not going to school.
Question 7
How do we use no with nouns to form negatives?
What are the key things to avoid in this structure?
Answer
No is used before a noun to form negatives
e.g., There were no problems.
We avoid using no with auxiliary verbs (
e.g., NOT We'll no have money.
Question 8
Describe the word order when negative adverbs such as no longer or
never are used with verbs.
Give example.
Answer
Are placed before the verb
e.g., She’s no longer working there;
They will never be free.
Question 9
How do we form questions with auxiliaries like be, have, and modal
verbs?
Give example
Answer
We form questions by placing the auxiliary/modal before the subject
e.g., Are you coming?
Have they finished?
Question 10
How do we form questions with other verbs? Could you give examples?
Answer
We form questions using do before the subject and the base form of the
verb
e.g., Do you know the answer?
Did he break it?
Question 11
When do we use do in question forms, and how is it structured?
Provide examples with both positive and negative forms.
Answer
We use do to form questions with verbs that are not auxiliaries or modals.
E.g., Do you like it?
Does she want tea?
Negative form: Doesn't he play football?
Question 12
What are yes/no questions, and how do we structure them?
Give examples
Answer
Yes/no questions are structured by starting with be, do, have, or a
modal, and expect a Yes or No answer
e.g., Are you feeling okay?
Do you like it?
Question 13
When do we use yes/no questions with or to offer choices?
Give example
Answer
We use or in yes/no questions to offer a choice between two options
e.g., Do we go now or wait until later?
Question 14
How do we structure wh-questions, and what types of information do they
seek when asking this type of questions?
Answer
Wh-questions begin with a question word (who, what, where, why, when,
how)
Ask for specific information
e.g., What’s your name?
How much does it cost?
Question 15
What happens when what or who is the subject in a question?
Provide an example
Answer
When what or who is the subject, we do not use do and put the main
verb directly after them
e.g., Who used my computer?
Question 16
How do we use whose and which with nouns in questions?
Provide examples of each
Answer
We use whose and which with nouns to ask for specific information
about possession or selection
e.g., Whose phone is ringing?
Which team won?
Question 17
How do we usually begin negative yes/no questions?
Answer
We begin negative yes/no questions with negative forms of be, do,
have, or a modal
e.g., Aren't those books mine?
Didn't she get married last year?
Question 18
Where do we place the negative forms in negative wh-questions?
Answer
In negative wh-questions, we place the negative form after the wh-word
e.g., Why didn't you go?
Question 19
How do we answer negative yes/no questions?
Answer
We use Yes to confirm the positive is true and No to confirm the
negative is true
e.g., Aren't they French?
Yes. (They are French)
No. (They aren't French)
Question 20
Where do we place negative adverbs like never in negative questions?
e.g., Have you never eaten meat? OR
Have never you eaten meat?
Answer
We place negative adverbs like never after the subject, not after the
auxiliary
e.g., Have you never eaten meat?
(hardly, little, never, only, scarcely, seldom)
Question 21
When can we use negative yes/no questions?
Answer
We use them to ask for confirmation (e.g., Isn't July 4th a big American
holiday?) or to express surprise (e.g., Doesn't she like any music at all?).
Question 22
When do we use questions beginning with Why don't you or Why not?
What is special about the structure Why not?
Answer
We use them for offers or suggestions
e.g., Why don't you come with us?
Why not have the party on Saturday?
No subject when we use Why not
Question 23
What are question tags?
Answer
Question tags are short questions added after statements
Typically with:
a positive statement + negative tag (e.g., We're late, aren't we?)
a negative statement + positive tag (e.g., I can't win, can I?)
Question 24
What is the difference between positive and negative tags?
Answer
We use a positive tag after a negative statement and a negative tag after
a positive statement (e.g., You haven't studied, have you? and She lost it,
didn't she?).
Question 25
When do we use full forms like are we not or does he not in question
tags?
Answer
Full forms are use in very formal situations
e.g., Are we not?
Question 26
Question tags = verb + pronoun
How do we match the pronoun and verb in question tags?
Answer
We use:
a pronoun that matches the subject
a verb that matches the main verb or auxiliary
e.g., You haven't talked to Mary, have you?
Question 27
How do we handle no one or nobody in question tags?
Answer
After no one or nobody, we use a positive tag with they
e.g., Nobody likes it, do they?
Question 28
How do we form tag question with imperative sentence?
Answer
We use modals like will (usually), would, could, can, won’t, or shall
(with let’s) in tags after imperatives for requests or proposals
e.g., Don't say anything, will you?
It softens the imperative a little.
Question 29
When do we use a positive tag after a positive sentence?
Answer
We use a positive tag to confirm information, often after repeating what
someone else said
e.g., That's your new car, is it?
Negative tags after negative sentences are rare.
Question 30
List the negative words.
Answer
no, not, neither, never, no one, nobody, none, nor, nothing, nowhere.
Question 31
List some negative words that can be used with positive verbs
Give examples
Answer
We can use positive verbs with negative words like no, none, nobody,
no one, and nothing
e.g., There was nothing to eat. (as Complement)
No one complained. (as Subject)
Question 32
What’s the difference between using no and none?
Answer
We use no before nouns and none instead of nouns (e.g., I have no
money vs. I have none).
Question 34
Can we use double negatives in English?
Answer
No, we do not normally use double negatives
e.g., NOT I don’t have no money.
In spoken or some English dialects, double negatives exist.
In written English: not + an adjective or adverb with a negative
prefix (e.g. un-, in-) -> softening or down-toning the meaning of the
adjective -> affirmative, but cautious about it.
e.g., This year’s rise in inflation to 3% was not unexpected. (This year’s
rise in inflation to 3% was expected to some extent.)
Question 35
How do we use none of in sentences?
Answer
We use none of before pronouns and determiners
e.g., None of them understood it.
None of the lights is working.
Question 36
What is a determiner?
Answer
A word that is used before a noun to show which particular example of the
noun you are referring to. Types include:
Article
b. Demonstrative determiners (this, that, these, those)
c. Distributive determiners (each, every, all, both)
d. Interrogative determiners (whose, what, which) (What kind of person
does something like that? / Max wondered aloud which taxi would arrive
first.)
e. Possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose)
f. Quantifying determiners and numbers (many, some, few, any, all, and
several.)
g. Relative determiners (what, whatever, which, and whichever)
Question 37
Is none used with plural or singular verbs?
Answer
Both, but singular more often
In informal situations, none can be used with plural verbs (e.g., None of
them are working).
Question 38
How can we use no with singular/plural nouns or gerunds?
Answer
We use no with nouns or gerunds for emphasis or in formal
situations
e.g., One class has no teacher.
No talking during the examination.
Question 39
What do we use in informal situations instead of no with gerunds?
Answer
In informal situations, we use Don't + verb (e.g., Don't park there).
Question 40
How do we use no or not any with comparative adjectives and adverbs?
Answer
We can use no or not any with comparative adjectives
e.g., These seats are no better than the others
and with adverbs
e.g., We shouldn't leave any later than 8:30.
Question 41
When do we use not instead of no?
Give examples
Answer
We use not in
reduced negatives (1)
before a/an (2)
before quantifiers (3)
Examples:
Do you want to keep these boxes or not?
Not a single drop of blood was spilt.
Not all Americans are rich.
Question 42
How do we form inversion with negative adverbs nowhere or never?
Answer
We form inversion by placing these adverbs at the front for emphasis
e.g., Never have I heard such nonsense.
Question 43
How do we structure inversion after negative phrases with no OR not?
Give example
Answer
We place not phrases at the front and invert the subject and auxiliary
e.g., Not until later did I realize.
Not only is Mark single, but he is also rich.
Question 44
Where is inversion typically used?
Answer
Inversion is typically used in formal or literary English, but also in informal
replies with neither, nor, and no way
e.g., Neither do I.
Nor did most people.
No way will he agree.
Question 45
When can we use what and which in questions?
Answer
We can use what and which before nouns or as pronouns
e.g., What bus should I take?
Which do you want?
Question 46
When do we use what instead of which?
Answer
We use what when there is an unlimited number of possible answers
e.g., What are you doing?
Question 47
When do we use which instead of what?
Give example
Answer
We use which when there is a limited number of possible answers
e.g., Which would you prefer?
Question 48
Which do we use ,which OR what, before one or ones?
Answer
We use which (not what) before one or ones to ask about specific items
from a limited set (e.g., Which ones already have sugar?).
Question 49
When do we use which of instead of what of?
Answer
We use which of (not what of) before determiners or pronouns when
asking about people or things from a limited set (e.g., Which of these
books haven't you read?).
Question 50
What can we use who for?
Answer
We use who to ask a general question (e.g., Who is first?).
Question 51
Where do we usually put prepositions in wh-questions?
Answer
We usually put prepositions at the end of wh-questions (e.g., What is he
going to fill the hole with?)
Answer
Formal communication: NO
Dangling prepositions: NO. any prepositions you’re using have objects
=> without Object -> no PREP
e.g., When are you leaving at? => NO
When are you leaving? => YES
Phrasal verbs: OK
e.g., After a long week, I just want to get away. (OK)
e.g., I planned a movie night to help my friend get over. (NO – the
phrasal verb has an object.)
I planned a movie night to help my friend get over their breakup.
Question 52
When do we put the preposition at the beginning of a wh-question?
Answer
In formal questions, the preposition can be placed at the beginning
e.g., With what is he going to fill the hole?
Question 53
What form do we use after a preposition: who or whom?
Answer
We must use whom after a preposition (e.g., To whom did you give your
old computer?).
Question 54
Reorder the words to form a correct question:
doing/ that/you/for/are/what/ ?
does/ who/ she/ like/ look/?
Answer
What are you doing that for?
Who does she look like?
The preposition is always at the end of these questions (What…for?
What/Who…like?)
Question 55
Which prepositions are used at the beginning of wh-questions, NOT the
end?
Answer
Prepositions like during, since, above, after, before, and below are
used at the beginning of wh-questions (e.g., During which period were the
French in control?).
Question 56
Where do we usually place adverbs in wh-questions?
Answer
We usually place adverbs after wh-words (e.g., How often do you
exercise?).
Question 57
When can we place adverbs before wh-words?
Answer
We can place adverbs like precisely or exactly before wh-words for
emphasis (e.g., Exactly when did he leave Cyprus?).
Question 58
What do we use wh-words with -ever for (wherever, whoever)?
Answer
We use wh-words with -ever to express surprise or disbelief (e.g.,
Wherever did you find that?).
Question 59
When can we use whichever in the same way as whatever?
Answer
Wh-ever words are used for surprise or disbelief
No, we don’t use whichever in this way. We use whatever to express
surprise (e.g., Whatever do you mean?).
Question 60
How can we put a yes/no question inside a wh-question?
Answer
We can place a yes/no question after the wh-word in a wh-question (e.g.,
What do you think is wrong?).
Question 61
Can you give an example of a yes/no question inside a wh-question?
Answer
Example: Who did he say was waiting outside? (NOT Who he said was
waiting outside?).
Question 62
What word order should we use in a yes/no question inside a wh-question?
Answer
We use question word order for the yes/no question, not the wh-question
e.g., When does he believe will the fighting end? (NO)
When does he believe the fighting will end?
(YES)
Question 63
When can we use a statement as a yes/no question?
Answer
We can use a statement as a yes/no question to ask for confirmation
(e.g., Monday is a holiday?).
Question 64
How do we use a statement as a question to express surprise?
Answer
We can repeat part of what was said as a statement to express surprise
e.g., Paul won first prize.
He won first prize?
Question 65
How do we use a wh-word in a statement for clarification?
Answer
We use a wh-word to ask for more information about part of what was just
said (e.g., You met who?).
Question 66
What is a rhetorical question, and how is it used?
Answer
A rhetorical question has the form of a question but is used to assert
something (e.g., Who cares? = I don't care).
introduce a topic (e.g., Do you remember the oil crisis?).
They can emphasize a question before giving an answer (e.g., What do I
think of it? I think it's too expensive.).
Question 67
How do we use reduced yes/no questions?
Answer
In informal situations, we drop Are you or Do/Did you (e.g., Feeling
okay?).
Question 68
How can we reduce wh-questions?
Answer
Wh-questions can be reduced to the wh-word alone (e.g., How?, Who?) or
short phrases (e.g., Why me?).
Question 69
How do we use How about or What about without verbs?
Answer
We use these phrases before nouns or gerunds to make suggestions or
draw attention (e.g., How about a cup of tea?, What about your
homework?).
Question 70
How do we report indirect questions?
Answer
In indirect questions, we don't use question word order or a question mark
(e.g., I asked her why she started the program).
Question 71
How do we start indirect yes/no questions?
Answer
We begin indirect yes/no questions with if or whether (e.g., I asked if
they taught karate).