Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

When / For what purpose do we ask a question in the affirmative form? What difference does it make with the interrogative form?

It seems that when we ask a question in the interrogative negative form, we expect a positive answer.

eg. a) Do you forget your old friends now? You never call up.
b) You forget your old friends now? You never call up.
c) Don't you remember your old friends now? (You never call up. ?)

Thank you for your help.
Hela

[patsteck]

Another way of asking would be "you DO want to remember your old friends, don't you?" "you would call if you did" or something like that. I believe it is a way of accentuating (putting emphasis on) an idea. In you example "B" you should say " do you forget your old friends now?" There is probably a better (more specific) answer than this, but I hope this helps.