How to Answer NEGATIVE QUESTIONS & Negative Questions Grammar

Summary

This video teaches a useful speaking skill to help English learners answer negative questions correctly. The lesson explains how to respond to questions like 'They don’t have the book?' by using the same helping verb and emphasizing the truth with responses like 'No, they don’t' or 'Yes, they do.' The instructor shares real-life examples and tips to avoid misunderstandings when answering negative questions, which is common for ESL students. With 25 years of experience, the instructor emphasizes the importance of practice and active listening to improve understanding and fluency in English conversations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Negative questions in English can often confuse learners, but answering them correctly is a key speaking skill.
• 😀 The way you answer negative questions in English depends on whether the negative assumption is true or false.
• 😀 In some languages, like Portuguese, negative questions are used the same way as in English, making it easier for native speakers of those languages.
• 😀 When responding to a negative question, use the same helping verb as in the question (e.g., 'no, they don't' or 'yes, they do').
• 😀 For example, if someone asks, 'They don’t have the book?', and it’s true they don’t, you would answer 'No, they don’t'.
• 😀 If the opposite is true (i.e., they have the book), answer with emphasis like 'Yes, they do' or 'Actually, they do'.
• 😀 Negative questions are often used when the speaker assumes a negative situation is true, such as 'They don't have the book?'
• 😀 If you don’t catch the helping verb in a negative question, you can still respond with 'No' or 'Yes', or repeat the entire sentence for clarity.
• 😀 Examples include common scenarios like 'You didn’t get the job?' or 'You don’t have enough money?' with responses like 'No, I didn’t' or 'No, I don’t'.
• 😀 To improve your understanding of negative questions, practice listening for them in conversations and notice how native speakers ask and answer them.

Q & A

What speaking skill does the video teach?

The video teaches how to correctly answer negative questions in English to avoid misunderstandings during conversation.

Why do English learners often struggle with negative questions?

Some languages use negative questions differently from English, so learners may answer in ways that create confusion, especially when interpreting ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

What misunderstanding happened between the teacher and her student in the story?

The teacher asked, “They don't have the book?” and the student answered “Yes,” causing confusion because the teacher couldn’t tell whether the student meant the bookstore did or did not have the book.

How should someone respond if the negative assumption is true?

If the negative assumption is true, the correct response is “No,” followed by the appropriate helping verb, such as “No, they don’t.”

How should someone respond if the negative assumption is not true?

If the assumption is not true, the correct response is “Yes,” with emphasis, such as “Yes, they do,” or “Actually, they do.”

Why do English speakers often ask negative questions?

They ask negative questions when they assume something negative is true and want to confirm their assumption.

What role does the helping verb play in answering negative questions?

The helping verb in the question (e.g., don’t, didn’t, isn’t) should be used in the answer to maintain clarity, such as replying “No, I didn’t” to “You didn’t get the job?”

What can a learner do if they miss the helping verb in a negative question?

They can answer with a simple yes/no, or they can repeat the full sentence for clarity, such as “No, they don’t have the book.”

Why might someone emphasize their reply when denying a negative assumption?

Emphasis like “Yes, I do” signals that the assumption was incorrect and clarifies the truth strongly to avoid confusion.

What examples does the video use to practice answers to negative questions?

The video practices examples such as: “You didn’t get the job,” “You don’t have enough money,” “The computer isn’t working,” and “You’re not feeling well.”

What strategy does the instructor recommend for improving understanding of negative questions?

She encourages learners to actively listen for negative questions in real conversations and observe how native speakers answer them.

Why is practicing negative questions important for English learners?

Correctly answering negative questions helps prevent misunderstandings and improves overall conversational clarity and confidence.