Hard to Earn is the fourth album from the hip hop duo Gang Starr. It was released in March 1994 and featured the singles “Mass Appeal”, “DWYCK” and “Code of the Streets”. Musically, the album is constructed around a harder, more stripped-down sound that is distinctively less melodic than the duo’s previous work. Guest appearances on the album come from Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, and Big Shug. At the time, all were part of the Gang Starr Foundation, which made the album a stepping-stone for future DJ Premier projects (taken verbatim from Wikipedia).
Grammar: Negative Questions
I can’t work at no fast-food joint.
I got some talent, so don’t you get my point?
I’ll organize some brothers and get some crazy loot.
The Meaning of Negative Questions
Negative questions have a different meaning than regular questions. Use negative questions to confirm information you already know or to express an opinion. Compare:
- Is San Francisco a nice city? I do not know the answer. I have never been to San Francisco. I need more information.
- Isn€™t San Francisco a nice city? I have been to San Francisco. I had a great time. In my opinion, I think it€™s a great city.
- Are you late for work? I do not know if you are late for work. I don€™t know when you must arrive.
- Aren€™t you late for work? I think you are late. You usually leave at 7:45, and it€™s 8:20. I am confirming information with you.
The Form
Making negative questions is easy. Simply add n€™t to the end of the helping verb.
Helping verb + n€™t + Subject + Verb
- Doesn€™t she look beautiful?
- Aren€™t you late for work?
- Isn€™t he living with his parents?
- Shouldn€™t you be studying right now?
Helping verb + Subject + not + Verb (less common, more formal)
- Does she not look beautiful?
- Are you not late for work?
- Is he not living with his parents?
- Should you not be studying right now?
An Exception to the Rule!
- Am I late for work?
- Aren€™t I late for work?
That€™s right! Use Am I for regular questions and Aren€™t I for negative questions. Don€™t blame me! I did not write the rules of English grammar.
How to Answer Negative Questions?
Answer negative questions the same way as regular questions.
- Is she late for work?
- Yes, she is. She is late for work.
- No, she isn€™t. She is not late for work.
- Isn€™t she late for work?
- Yes, she is. She is late for work.
- No, she isn€™t. She is not late for work.