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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Difference between these two questions and the way it is answered. How can I explain to students?    

Difference between these two questions and the way it is answered. How can I explain to students?



Vochtig
Netherlands

Difference between these two questions and the way it is answered. How can I explain to students?
 
1. Don īt you want me to help you?  I thought you did.
2. Do you want me to help you? I will if you want.
 
My students think that the two responses should be exchanged to the other question.  How can I explain to the students?

5 Dec 2010      





memthefirst
Turkey

I think in the first one the offer has been refused.So he/she can īt believe it because he/she thought the other would really accept the help offer.
In the second one the offer hasn īt been accepted or refused yet.

5 Dec 2010     



ueslteacher
Ukraine

How is that you don īt want me to help you?Unhappy
I īm willing to help if you let me.Smile
memthefirst has explained it perfectly well.
Sophia

5 Dec 2010     



zailda
Brazil

We use negative questions to:
 
- show surprise / anger for something being different from what we expect.
 
- confirm something we think is true.
 
Do you have a cat? (I don īt know if the answer will be "yes" or "no")
 
Don īt you have a cat? (I īm surprised because I thought you have one)
 
Aren īt you ready yet? (I īm expressing anger / surprise because I expected you to be ready by now)

5 Dec 2010