Isn't cooking fun?

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Isn't cooking fun?

Negative Yes-No Questions

Intermediate

With negative yes-no questions, you will be able to confirm if something is true.

Exercise 1

Sentence Practice

Isn't he happy?
Aren’t you hungry?
Don’t you like bananas?
Didn’t she come?
Can't they speak English?

Grammar Focus

Why do we use negative yes-no questions?

Remember: A yes-no question is a question whose answer can only be 'yes' or 'no'. For example, 'Is he happy?' 'Yes, he is'/'No, he's not'.

Negative yes-no questions are question forms that begin with a negative helping verb such as aren't, isn't, can't, don't, didn't.

We usually use this type of question to check something we believe or expect to be true. For instance if we believe that Jim is a happy person, we can say:

Isn’t he happy?

How do we answer a negative yes-no question?

When answering negative yes-no questions, the answer is exactly the same as for positive yes-no questions. We answer “no” when the answer is negative, and “yes” when the answer is positive.

Isn’t he happy?
→ No, he isn’t.
→ Yes, he is.

How do we form a negative yes-no question?

Turn the negative statement into a negative question.

He isn't happy. → Isn't he happy?
You aren't hungry. → Aren't you hungry?
You don't like bananas. → Don't you like bananas?
She didn't come. → Didn't she come?
They can't speak English. → Can't they speak English?

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogues aloud with your tutor.

	Liam Isn’t that your mother’s new house?
	Zach Yes, it is. Isn't it nice?
	Liam Yeah, it's really nice!

	Nathan Aren’t you from Japan?
	Ling No, I'm not. I'm from China.

	Andrei Aren’t you going back home for the holidays?
	Jessica Yes, I am, and I can't wait!

	Olivia Can you make me some food, please?
	Mom I'm tired. Can’t you cook for yourself?

Exercise 3

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences.

cooking fun?

I love cooking. you love it too?

you cook? I heard you are a great cook.

you cook in a restaurant before?

you going to make pasta? I'm looking forward to it.

you going to make pasta tonight? How come that didn't happen?

Answer Pool (Questions 1-6)

Didn't
Isn't
Can't
Aren't
Weren't
Don't

Exercise 4

Sentence Building

Your friend is talking about another friend who has not been very responsive recently. They aren't responding to phone calls or messages. Ask about the other friend by changing the following sentences into negative yes-no questions.

Example

He is very busy. → "Isn't he very busy?"

He is sick in bed.
He is travelling abroad.
He moved away.
He lives abroad.
He changed his phone number.
He got a new phone.
He has new friends now.
He doesn't care about us anymore.