We can sometimes use negative yes/no or wh-questions to make a suggestion, to persuade someone, to criticise, or to show that we are surprised, etc.:
• Why don't we go out for a meal? (a suggestion)
• Wouldn't it be better to go tomorrow instead? (persuading someone)
• Can't you play that trumpet somewhere else? (a criticism)
• Didn't you tell them who you were? (showing surprise)
We usually make a negative yes/no or wh- (particularly why) question with an auxiliary verb + -n't before the subject:
• Doesn't he want to come with us?
• Haven't you got anything better to do?
• Why can't we go by bus?
• 'I'm not sure I like their new house.' 'What don't you like about it?'
We can also ask a negative question using a negative statement and a positive 'tag' at the end:
• We don't have to leave just yet, do we?
In more formal speech and writing, or when we want to give some special emphasis to the negative (perhaps to show that we are angry, very surprised, or that we want particularly to persuade someone), we can put not after the subject:
• Did she not realise that she had broken the window?
• Can they not remember anything about it?
• Why did you not return the money?
If the question word is the subject, we put -n't or not after the auxiliary verb:
• Who wouldn't like to own an expensive sports car? {not Who not would like...?)
We sometimes use negative words other than not (or -n't) such as never, no, nobody, nothing, and nowhere:
• Why do you never help me with my homework? (or Why don't you ever help...?)
• Have you no money left? (or Don't you have any money left?)
• Have you nowhere to go? (or Haven't you got anywhere to go?)
('Haven't you any...?' and 'Haven't you anywhere...?' would be formal in the last two examples.]
Some negative questions anticipate that the answer will be or should be 'Yes':
• 'Wasn't Chris in Japan when the earthquake struck?' 'Yes, he was.'
• 'Didn't I see you in Paris last week?' 'That's right.'
Other negative questions anticipate that the answer will be or should be 'No':
• 'What's wrong? Don't you eat fish?' 'No, it disagrees with me.'
• 'Haven't you finished yet?' 'Sorry, not yet.'
It is usually clear from the context which kind of answer is anticipated.
Notice how we answer negative questions:
• 'Don't you enjoy helping me?' 'Yes.' (= Yes, I do enjoy it.) or 'No.' (= No, I don't enjoy it.)
• 'You're not living here, are you?' 'Yes.' (= Yes, I am living here.) or 'No.' (= No, I'm not living here.)
We can make a suggestion with Why not + verb or Why don't/doesn't...:
• Why not decorate the house yourself? (or Why don't you decorate...?)
• Why not give her what she wants f (or Why don't we give her...?)
Why didn't... isn't used to make a suggestion, but can be used to criticise someone:
• Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?
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