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How to Use This Lesson

👩‍🏫 For Teachers (12 mins)

Guide students through the 4-rule reference card below before starting practice.
Use the embedded answer keys to check responses quickly after individual work.

🎓 For Learners

Read each grammar rule and study the underlined example sentences first.
Complete the 12 practice questions to test your understanding of each rule.

📘 Negative Questions

Learn how to form negative questions in English for expressing surprise, double-checking facts, and making polite suggestions.

Word Order in Informal vs. Formal Questions

Attach n't to the helper verb directly before the subject in standard conversations. In formal writing or speech, put not after the subject instead.

Standard / Informal

"Haven't the new students received their ties yet?"

Formal Writing

"Have the students not submitted their views on school dress codes?"

Surprise, Checking, & Polite Suggestions

Use these questions to show surprise or to check expected facts. You can also use them to offer a polite suggestion or soft complaint.

Surprise / Checking

"Aren't you wearing a jacket today? It is very cold."

Polite Suggestion

"Wouldn't it be better to choose a single hairstyle policy to encourage equality?"

Answering Negative Questions

Answer based on the actual fact, not the negative form of the question. Use yes if true and no if untrue, adding details to avoid confusion.

Untrue Fact (No)

"Doesn't your sister work here? No, she doesn't; she works at the airport."

True Fact (Yes)

"Doesn't your uniform build a sense of belonging? Yes, it does; everyone feels included."

Choosing Auxiliaries & "Aren't I"

Use the standard helper verb or add do, does, or did if none is present. Always use aren't I with the pronoun I, as amn't I is not standard.

First Person (Aren't I)

"Aren't I allowed to wear trainers in the office on Fridays?"

Standard Auxiliaries

"Don't you think wearing identical casual outfits is fair?"

✏️ Practice Exercises

Test your skills across 12 targeted questions based on the dress code policy theme.

Part 1 Multiple Choice: Select the Best Option

1. Select the correct formal negative question for an official school dress code policy notice. (formal)

____ a. Haven't the students received their new navy blazers yet? ____ b. Have not the students received their new navy blazers yet? ____ c. Have the students not received their new navy blazers yet? ____ d. Has the students not received their new navy blazers yet?

2. Choose the correct question to check whether the school allows sneakers. (check)

____ a. Isn't the school allow sneakers on Fridays? ____ b. Doesn't the school allow sneakers on Fridays? ____ c. Don't the school allows sneakers on Fridays? ____ d. Doesn't the school allows sneakers on Fridays?

3. Someone asks: "Doesn't your school require a neat collar?" You DO need to wear one. Choose the correct clear answer. (answer)

____ a. No, it doesn't; it is optional. ____ b. Yes, it doesn't; it is required. ____ c. Yes, it does; it is required. ____ d. No, it does; it is required.

Part 2 Sentence Rewriting: Form Negative Questions

4. Rewrite the statement as a polite negative question. Use the contracted form: "It would be better to choose a hairstyle that matches the code." (suggestion)

____ (Type your rewritten sentence here...)

5. Rewrite the statement as a negative question to express surprise. Use the contracted form: "You do not think school uniforms promote equality." (surprise)

____ (Type your rewritten sentence here...)

6. Rewrite the statement using the contracted form to check a fact: "The board has not decided on the new dress code yet." (contracted)

____ (Type your rewritten sentence here...)

Part 3 Gap-Fill: Complete the Sentences

7. Complete the question using the correct negative auxiliary verb: (checking)

" you tried the new blazer on yet? The shop closes soon."

____ (Missing word(s))

8. Complete the response according to the fact that the headteacher did NOT mention it: (answer)

A: "Didn't the headteacher mention our casual wear policy?"

B: " , he didn't; he only discussed standard school uniform rules."

____ (Missing word)

9. Complete the polite complaint with the missing starter word: (complaint)

" it a bit unfair that only some students must wear a tie?"

____ (Missing word)

Part 4 Error Correction: Fix the Mistakes

10. Read the message and correct the underlined non-standard phrase: (check)

"Hey! Amn't I required to keep my collar folded neatly during formal ceremonies?"

Type the corrected 2-word phrase: ____ (Correct phrase)

11. Fix the word order error in this formal notice sentence starter: (formal)

"Have not all members agreed to wear the new tie?"

Type the corrected formal word order (4 words): ____ (Correct formal order)

12. Correct the opening response phrase so that it agrees with the real fact (the policy IS restrictive): (answer)

A: "Isn't a strict dress code restrictive for personal expression?"
B: "Yes, it isn't; it restricts individual style choices."

Type the correct opening response (3 words): ____ (Correct opening response)

Grammar: Negative Questions in Context

How to Use This Lesson

📘 Negative Questions

Word Order in Informal vs. Formal Questions

Surprise, Checking, & Polite Suggestions

Answering Negative Questions

Choosing Auxiliaries & "Aren't I"

✏️ Practice Exercises

Part 1 Multiple Choice: Select the Best Option

Part 2 Sentence Rewriting: Form Negative Questions

Part 3 Gap-Fill: Complete the Sentences

Part 4 Error Correction: Fix the Mistakes

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Uniforms and Dress Codes

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