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Originally Posted by dihen Isn't "Is this not what you wanted?" also correct? |
It's correct.
Here's how it works. With the verb To Be (is, am, was, etc.), questions are formed by inverting (i.e., switching) the subject and the verb, like this:
Statement: She ishappy.
Question: Is she happy?
Now let's add in the adverb "not". If "not" contracts with the verb, it moves with the verb:
step 1 Statement: She
is not step 2 Contraction: She isn't step 3 Question: Isn't she?
If "not" doesn't contract with the verb, it doesn't move:
step 1 Statement: She is not step 2 Question: Is she not?
In short,
Non-contracted "not"
subject + verb + "not" => verb + subject + "not"
EX: She is not => Is she not?
Contracted "not"
subject + verb + "n't" => verb +"n't" + subject
EX: She isn't => Isn't she?
Hope that helps.
