This post is another one where the English Grammar Profile has clashing proficiency levels associated with a point and in the examples. Here we are looking at the category of QUESTIONS. It is understandable that usage is what is different, but the examples could be better selected:
B2 Point 29:
‘wh-‘words + the negative form of auxiliary ‘do’ + subject + main verb to form ‘wh-‘questions.
Why don’t you go to your doctor? (*suggestion)
Why didn’t you check with the ticket office first before you wrote your article?
Why didn’t you say something about it?
Why haven’t you told me before?
*note that the examples in the EGP include ‘didn’t’ and ‘haven’t, but not in the definition.
A2 Point 9:
negative question ‘why don’t’ + pronoun + verb, to make a suggestion or invitation.
Why don’t we watch a film?
Why don’t you come with me?
Also note in the English Vocabulary Profile:
why don’t you?/ why not do sth?
A2 used to make a suggestion
For example:
So why not get started?
*The B2 examples are mostly more complex and by length. Yet, there is no entry for subject questions, which should be B2 too. For example:
And who doesn’t want to feel more joy
Here is a B2 example with an adverb in the normal position:
why doesn’t she just leave?
We believe adverbs in the rarer position: between the question word and the auxilliary in negative questions should be C1:
*In the above example, ‘then‘ means ‘in that case‘.
Long search strings are not accepted in iWeb corpus, so we can start by looking for:
. _**q _vd _xx
1 . WHY DON’T 9162
1 . WHY DON’T YOU TAKE A 78
Oh, why don’t you take a look at yourself?
2 . WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A 65
3 . WHY DON’T YOU TRY TO 50
4 . WHY DON’T YOU GO TO 49
5 . WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME 45
6 . WHY DON’T YOU TRY IT 44
7 . WHY DON’T YOU GIVE ME 37
8 . WHY DON’T YOU GO AND 37
9 . WHY DON’T YOU TELL US 37
10 . WHY DON’T YOU GET A 36
PELIC STUDENT examples:
Arabic, Male, level 5, writing class
After all, if we have a hobby with a good field of studying and a good professional life. Why don’t we choose it to be our life?
Thai, Male, level 5, writing class
Moreover, Thai people are very friendly and willing to help foreigners who come from around the world. Why don’t you visit my country in your break?
Thai, Female, level 5, grammar class
In my case, I think that I could save more utilities in my daily life because I always forget [to] turn
ingoffa[the] TV, shuttingdown my laptop. Why don’t I do that?
*The above example is not an invitation or suggeston…
Korean,Male, level 4, writing class
A: The knife can be a useful tool for everything. Okay, take it. Why don’t we take a flashlight?
*Above, are all the examples for ‘Why don’t…?’ and require too much interpretation to decide which level the grammar points to.
2 . WHY DIDN’T 3472
DIYphotography1 . WHY DIDN’T I THINK 124
2 . WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL 86
3 . WHY DIDN’T I GET 42
4 . WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY 34
5 . WHY DIDN’T THEY DO 29
6 . WHY DIDN’T I DO 28
7 . WHY DIDN’T WE THINK 27
8 . WHY DIDN’T I RECEIVE 24
9 . WHY DIDN’T YOU DO 23
10 . WHY DIDN’T HE DO 21
11 . WHY DIDN’T YOU GO 21
12 . WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL 20
13 . WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL 20
14 . WHY DIDN’T YOU COME 20
15 . WHY DIDN’T THEY USE 19
16 . WHY DIDN’T HE GO 16
17 . WHY DIDN’T I SEE 16
18 . WHY DIDN’T IT WORK 15
19 . WHY DIDN’T THEY MAKE 14
20 . WHY DIDN’T YOU TAKE 14
Mongol, Female, level 4, grammar class
I could have done that. Why didn’t I?
*one example in PELIC, but no main verb.
3 . WHO DOESN’T 3210
Chinese, Female, level 5, writing class
Who doesn’t fear violence and terrorist[s] and set[ting] up her/his personal freedom on the dangerous internet? Would the people like to retain their personal freedom while they are disrupted by scams every day and suffer hackers often? There is no reason for the internet to be a wild and lawless place.
*An excellent example of rhetoric within an essay. This is very high complexity but does not qualify since it is a subject question.
4 . WHY DOESN’T 1656
5 . WHICH DOESN’T 623
6 . WHAT DOESN’T 542
7 . WHO DOES NOT 347
8 . WHAT DOES NOT 235
9 . WHICH DOES NOT 207
10 . WHAT DIDN’T 191
There is a B1 point related to yes/no perfect questions, but no point related to a leading question word. Hence we believe this is B2.
These lead to present perfect or past perfect questions:
. _**q _vh _xx
1 . WHO HASN’T 501
2 . WHY HAVEN’T 475
3 . WHY HASN’T 448
4 . WHAT HASN’T 269
5 . WHAT HAS NOT 242
6 . WHO HAS NOT 185
7 . WHY HADN’T 148
8 . WHICH HAS NOT 25
From the results above, here are completed examples written by AI:
- Who hasn’t seen the latest episode of Game of Thrones?
- Why haven’t you finished your homework yet?
- Why hasn’t he called me back?
- What hasn’t changed since the pandemic?
- Who has not received their vaccination?
- Why hadn’t she told me the truth? (past perfect)
We believe the passive form is even more complex, so it should be at least C1: