what for

[navi tasan]

1) Why did you call me?
2) What did you call me for?


3) Why didn't you call me?
4) What didn't you call me for?


I think '1' and '2' are both correct and mean the same, but it seems to me that '4' doesn't work. I think 'what ... for?' does not work with negative verbs.

Am I right?

Gratefully,
Navi.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

[MikeNewYork]

You are correct.

 

[Tarheel]

What's a negative verb? "Didn't"?

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you both very much,

Yes, I think 'didn't' is a negative verb. Actually, I wasn't sure if one could also say 'didn't call' is negative or not. But I think that is not possible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_verb

Of course, everything depends on the context. In my case, for instance, 'despair' is a negative verb that is used on a daily basis. And when I say 'my case', I have the medical meaning in my despairing mind!
Gratefully,
Navi.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know that I want to find a place in my vocabulary for negative verbs. True, there are some words that have negative connotations, but that means they suggest some kind of unpleasantness.

 

[Tdol]

If you don't smoke, it's a negative verb, but the meaning's positive to many.

 

[Tarheel]

I have a problem, thus:

Every time I learn something new
I forget something I already knew.
;-)