Learners at C1 level can use the negative question form as a persuasion strategy.

C1 50x33   Don’t you just hate taking the bus to school every morning? Well, I have a perfect solution for you, a great bike with good brakes, a bell and lights. It is a great bike but since I never use it, I would be happy to sell it to you. (CELSH; Dutch)

C1 50x33   Don’t you find that when you are having a shower or bath, you occasionally run out of water? (Cambridge English: Advanced; Korean)

Learners can use the negative question form to check opinions.

C1 50x33   Doesn’t it sound fascinating? (Cambridge English: Advanced; Korean)

C1 50x33   Don’t we all like presents? (Cambridge English: Advanced; Dutch)

C1 50x33   Don’t you think that fashion always looks funny if it is not the fashion of today? (Cambridge English: Advanced; Russian)

C1 level learners can use the present simple with a wide range of reporting verbs, including demonstrate and illustrate, especially in academic contexts.

C1 50x33   The popularity of this TV game in Russia clearly demonstrates the nature of human fears and dreams. (Cambridge English: Advanced; Russian)

C1 50x33   The two charts illustrate the number of employees, and the trends in profit for three factories, namely the factories located in London, Leeds, and Bristol, which belong to the same company, during the year 2003. (Cambridge English: Business Higher; Chinese)

No significant progress with the present simple is made at the C2 level. However, the progress made by learners at C1 is impressive in the sense of purpose seen with learner choices of language use. Learners at this level use the negative question form to both persuade and check opinions. As to be expected of learners at this advanced level, progress is also made in the range of vocabulary items used, which can be utilised in more formal or academic contexts.

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