Don't you agree? ...

[deldalton]

Hello!

I've just registered, after 'googling' when to use "Me, Myself or I", and I already have a question. Although it seems obvious, "don't you agree?" surely cannot be correct english? I've tried thinking about it and I just can't make any sense out of "do not you agree?". However, don't you agree simply sounds correct when used? ...

I'm not really sure what answer I'm looking for. Perhaps, I'm just obsessed with procrastinating ... :roll:

Thanks.

 

[riquecohen]

Try "Do you not agree?" It´s "good English."

 

[Munch]

Yeah, it's interesting that in some phrases, the contractions can't be expanded. In some ways, contractions have become English words in their own right. I am off to google to search for some more examples. Thanks for helping me procrastinate!

 

[Barb_D]

Don't I
Don't you
Don't we
Don't they
Doesn't he
Doesn't it

They all switch order.

 

[Munch]

Haven't you/they/I...

Yeah, there are a lot of examples.

 

[lauralie2]

Although it seems obvious, "don't you agree?" surely cannot be correct english? I've tried thinking about it and I just can't make any sense out of "do not you agree?". However, don't you agree simply sounds correct when used? ...

Welcome!

Looking at it this way might help a little, or not:

• He is not a doctor. <statement>
• He isn't a doctor. <contracted form>
• Isn't he a doctor? <question formation>

In forming questions, the subject and verb are inverted:

he isn't => isn't he?
​