COROLLARY THEOREMS - ENGLISH GRAMMAR: INTERROGATIONS AND NEGATIONS

Corollary Theorems: INTERROGATIONS AND NEGATIONS

English Grammar Notes #16:

INTERROGATIONS AND NEGATIONS

Back to GRAMMAR main page:

Interrogations and negations are modified forms of the affirmative sentences/messages. Although this topic is related to "form"--therefore it falls in the shadow of morphology--in LSEG it was inserted into the syntax part.

The truth is, we do not use much morphology or syntax to form correct interrogations and negations; it takes only few structural changes. However, there are many types of interrogations and negations, and some of them are a bit tricky to master appropriately--consider the topic of "double negation". The good news is, everything is presented in details in LSEG.

The structure employed to present Interrogations and Negations is:
1. Interrogations
2. Negations
3. Confirmative Question
4. Particular Instances

ATTENTION
These Grammar Notes are far from being sufficient to understand the topics presented. For accurate and detailed information we recommend LOGICALLY STRUCTURED ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

INTERROGATIONS

The default (natural or reference) sentence is the declarative/affirmative one: interrogations and negations are considered modified forms of the default affirmative sentence. Not all verbs form interrogations and negations the same. Generally, there are two main groups of verbs used to form interrogations and negations:
1. Group A: the auxiliaries "to be" and "to have", plus modal defectives;
2. Group B: all other verbs.

INTERROGATIONS - GROUP A

In interrogative form, these verbs switch places with their subjects. Fragment form LSEG: interrogations with "to have".

LSEG: interrogations with "to have"

INTERROGATIONS - GROUP B

The group of "all other verbs", including "to do" used as principal, forms interrogative sentences with the auxiliary verb "to do", just by adding it ahead of the affirmative sentence. Fragment form LSEG: interrogations with "all other verbs".

LSEG: interrogations with "all other verbs" group

NEGATIONS

NEGATIONS - GROUP A

The verb "to have" forms negative sentences in two modes:
A. alone
B. together with the auxiliary verb "to do"

When "to have" forms negations alone, "not" is introduced after "to have" in affirmative sentences. When "to have" is used as auxiliary, "not" is introduced after the first auxiliary verb.

Negations are formed using "to have" alone:
1. when "to have" is used as auxiliary in perfect forms;
2. sometimes, when "to have" is used to express possession, or instead of "to be".

Few instances of using "to have" to form negations are highlighted next. Fragment form LSEG: negations with "to have".

NEGATIONS - GROUP B

The group of "all other verbs", including "to do" used as principal, forms negative sentences by adding "to do" + "not" ahead of the predicate in affirmative sentences. The predicate is set to infinitive, and only the auxiliary verb changes forms. Few instances of using "all other verbs" to form negations are highlighted next.

Fragment form LSEG: negations with "all other verbs" group.

LSEG: negations with "all other verbs" group

CONFIRMATIVE QUESTION

Confirmative question is a complex sentence having two clauses (parts):
1. the first clause/part is a declaration;
2. the second clause/part is a question asking the interlocutor to validate the declaration.

Confirmative question is named in some publications "question tag". Generally, confirmative question takes the reverse positive/negative "sign" of the declarative clause. However, there are instances when confirmative question has the same sign as the declaration, in order to express increased emphatic content of: surprise, doubt, irritation, etc. Few instances of using confirmative questions are highlighted next.

Examples:
This is your work, isn't it?
You have two children now, have you!

Fragment form LSEG: using confirmative question.

LSEG: using confirmative question

PARTICULAR INSTANCES

The are few more particular instances of forming interrogations and negations; for example:
1. double negation;
2. using some, any, no, none in affirmations, interrogations, and negations;
3. rhetorical question;
4. short answers;
5. negative interrogation;
6. using phonetics to form interrogations.

LINKS

Learn English grammar as it is known to few professionals only

MOST VISITED PAGES AT COROLLARY THEOREMS
1.	LOGICALLY STRUCTURED ENGLISH GRAMMAR - if you think you know English grammar, think again
2.	LEARN HARDWARE FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE DESIGN - and develop your own commercial product the easy way!
3.	AMAZING ARTICLES - "Reality is never what it appears to be"
4.	NEWS - "Global Picture" in news presented by Corollary Theorems
5.	GRAMMAR FAQ - English grammar questions and answers

Back to GRAMMAR main page

Page valid according to W3C