NEGATIVE QUESTION + MODAL VERB

B1 Point 24 in the category of QUESTIONS is defined as:

‘wh-‘words + the negative form of modal verbs + subject + main verb to form ‘wh-‘questions.

B1 Point 26 in the category of QUESTIONS is defined as:

modal verbs + ‘not’ + subject + main verb to form ‘yes/no’ questions


*Note that there is already an entry at B1 for ‘can’t’ questions.  And a much more general A2 point 25 in CLAUSES/interrogatives: negative ‘wh-‘ interrogative clauses.  Point 25 includes an example sentence that includes ‘could’.


A search in iWeb for:

_VM _XX _P _VVI ?

1 WOULD N’T YOU SAY ? 678
2 WOULD N’T YOU AGREE? 508

Wouldn’t you agree?

3 CA N’T YOU SEE ? 214
4 WOULD N’T YOU THINK ? 112
5 CA N’T YOU TELL ? 92
6 CA N’T YOU READ ? 40
7 CA N’T YOU UNDERSTAND ? 39
8 WOULD N’T IT WORK ? 32
9 WO N’T IT WORK ? 19
10 WOULD N’T YOU KNOW ? 18
11 WO N’T YOU COME ? 17
12 WO N’T YOU SAY ? 14
13 CA N’T THEY MISS ? 10
14 CA N’T IT WAIT ? 10
15 WO N’T YOU DIE ? 10


  Crookston Times
Crookston Library emerging from pandemic
Wouldn’t you agree it was one of the worst years ever?
*Our grammar doesn’t get tagged here because there is C1 grammar tagged first.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *