adverbs and question forms...

[aysaa]

Hello,

English as Second Language Grammar Help - Adverbs of Frequency - Placement of Adverbs of Frequency for Intermediate Level Students and Classes

"Never", "seldom", "rarely" and other adverbs of frequency with a negative sense are not usually used in the question form.

Can I ask you whether we can use these adverbs in the question form or not? Can we say something like that?

Do you never........
Do you seldom.....

Thanks...

 

[Alamshar]

The short answer to your question is no you can't - you need to change it.

You generally don't use negative adverbs in questions. Therefore:
Do you ever (see John)?
Do you (see John)? - do not use seldom

If you use seldom, never, rarely etc. you are narrowing the question and limiting the possible responses. In very colloquial English it is possible to use them.

Here's an example of where you might use "never" in the question.

Have you never seen Avatar? It's a fantastic film. Here the speaker is expressing surprise that the other person has never seen the film.
Hope this helps

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello,

English as Second Language Grammar Help - Adverbs of Frequency - Placement of Adverbs of Frequency for Intermediate Level Students and Classes

"Never", "seldom", "rarely" and other adverbs of frequency with a negative sense are not usually used in the question form.

Can I ask you whether we can use these adverbs in the question form or not? Can we say something like that?

Do you never........
Do you seldom.....

Thanks...

As your quote says, they are not usually used in that way, that doesn't mean they are never used. So I think we can safely say that there are times when they are.