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plCommon errors
1. Syntactic Errors
1.1 Adding the question particle 吗/嗎 to an A-not-A question
Learners may mistakenly add the question particle 吗/嗎 at the end of the A-not-A structure. The instructor can compare the two different kinds of interrogatives and explain that A-not-A structure has already built-in interrogative force and therefore does not require the addition of 吗/嗎.
*你买不买水果吗？
你买不买水果？
你买水果吗？
*你買不買水果嗎？
你買不買水果？
你買水果嗎？
1.2 Misapplying the reduplication when a modal verb is present
If a sentence has both a modal verb and a main verb, only the modal is repeated in the A-not-A pattern.
*你能讲不讲？
你能不能讲？
*你能講不講？
你能不能講？
1.3 Adding a degree adverb before an A-not-A question
Degree adverbs like 很, 非常, 有点 etc. should not be used before the A-not-A structure. These adverbs may appear in the answer, not in the question.
*他非常喜不喜欢这幅画？
他喜不喜欢这幅画？
他非常喜欢这幅画吗？
他非常喜欢。
他很不喜欢。
*他非常喜不喜歡這幅畫？
他喜不喜歡這幅畫？
他非常喜歡這幅畫嗎？
他非常喜歡。
他很不喜歡。
1.4 Misplacing the object in the A-not-A question
In A-not-A questions, the A-not-A part usually stays on the verb or adjective, and the object appears only once, after the whole A-not-A pattern. Learners may attach the object to both sides.
*你吃饭不吃饭？
你吃不吃饭？
*你喜欢我不喜欢我？
你喜不喜欢我？
*你有钱没有钱？
你有没有钱？
*你吃飯不吃飯？
你吃不吃飯？
*你喜歡我不喜歡我？
你喜不喜歡我？
*你有錢沒有錢？
你有沒有錢？
1.5 Misusing 不 and 没(沒)
Use 没（沒） inside A-not-A question to ask about past occurrence/completion with event-related verbs (e.g., 看没看、去没去). For states/intentions/ability at that moment, 不 is used.
*你昨天看不看电影？（asking if the action took place yesterday.）
你昨天看没看电影？
*你昨天看不看電影？
你昨天看沒看電影？
Learners may need to be reminded that in A-not-A questions with 有, the negative half must use 没(有)/沒(有), not 不.
*你有不有时间？
你有没有时间？
*你有不有時間？
你有沒有時間？
1.6 For adjective A-not-A questions, forgetting 很 in the affirmative answer
When an adjective functions as the predicate in a plain affirmative answer, 很 is needed as a grammatical linker (it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘very’). After an A-not-A question with an adjective, the natural affirmative is ‘Subject + 很 + Adj.’ or for a short answer just ‘Adj’, but not just ‘Subject + Adj.’
Q：你高不高兴？
A：*我高兴。
高兴。
我很高兴。
Q：你高不高興？
A：*我高興。
高興。
我很高興。
2. Semantic Errors
2.1 Confusion with WH-question
WH-questions and A-not-A structures are mutually exclusive. Learners sometimes combine the two, especially when translating from English (‘Is he going where?’).
*他去不去哪儿？
他去哪儿？
他去不去？
*他去不去哪兒？
他去哪兒？
他去不去？
Errors caused by native transfer
1. Using 有不有 instead of 有没有
Learners sometimes calque ‘have / not have’ and produce 有不有. In Chinese, 有 forms A-not-A questions with 没, not 不.
*你有不有钱？
你有没有钱
*你有不有錢？
你有沒有錢
2. Adding the question particle 吗/嗎 to an A-not-A question
Learners may double mark in Chinese by adding 吗/嗎 to an A-not-A form.
*你买不买水果吗？
你买不买水果？
你买水果吗？
*你買不買水果嗎？
你買不買水果？
你買水果嗎？
3. Responding to A-not-A question with 是/不是?
Learners may treat 是 / 不是 as general equivalents of ‘yes / no’. As a result, they sometimes reply with 是 / 不是 to any A–not–A question, instead of echoing the main verb or adjective.
Q：你买不买水果？
A：*是，我买水果。
买，我买水果。
Q：你有没有时间？
A： *不是，我没有时间。
没有，我没有时间。
Q：她漂不漂亮？
A：*是，她很漂亮。
她很漂亮。
Q：你買不買水果？
A：*是，我買水果。
買，我買水果。
Q：你有沒有時間？
A： *不是，我沒有時間。
沒有，我沒有時間。
Q：她漂不漂亮？
A：*是，她很漂亮。
她很漂亮。
Classroom activity: Personal Survey – Tell Me or Not?
Pairs or small groups of 3-4 students
15–20 minutes
A survey sheet, pen or pencil
- Each student receives a survey sheet with the questions related to his/her personal information, interests and/or skills.
- Ask the team member(s) the questions. Use full A-not-A sentences:
你吃不吃苹果？
你喜不喜欢上课？
- Write down their answer (O or X or short note).
- After completing the survey, share the results with the whole class:
小明不喜欢喝茶。很多人会说汉语。