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Hans51 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

A: Is he at home now? / Isn't he at home how?

A: Is he at home now? / Isn't he at home now?

B: No, he isn't / Yes, he is.

Is there a meaning difference between 'Is he at home now?' and 'Isn't he at home now?'?

And when he is not at home now, is the answer 'No, he isn't' in both questions?

What do you native English speakers think?

Thank you so much as usual in advance!
  

Top answer

'? The second one suggests that the speaker thinks he should be at home. The first one is a neutral question (or with the right intonation, could suggest surprise that he is at home).

— GPY

  • '?
  • The second one suggests that the speaker thinks he should be at home.
  • The first one is a neutral question (or with the right intonation, could suggest surprise that he is at home).
  • Hans51 And when he is not at home now, is the answer 'No, he isn't' in both questions?
  • Yes (or just "No").
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5 Answers
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Hans51Is there a meaning difference between 'Is he at home now?' and 'Isn't he at home now?'?
The second one suggests that the speaker thinks he should be at home. The first one is a neutral question (or with the right intonation, could suggest surprise that he is at home).
Hans51And when he is not at home now, is the answer 'No, he isn
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"Is he at home now?" "No, he is not." (Correction)
"Is he at home now?" "Yes he is." (Confirmation)

"Is he not at home now?" "Yes, he is not" (Confirmation)
"Is he not at home now?" "Yes, he is" (Correction)
"Is he not at home now?" "No, he is not" (Confirmation)
"Is he not at home now?" "No, he is" (Correction)

Negative questions have more options for answers.
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Anonymous"Is he not at home now?" "Yes, he is not" (Confirmation)
Anonymous"Is he not at home now?" "No, he is" (Correction)
I would never use these, nor expect to hear anyone else use them. They seem thoroughly confusing to me.
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GPYYes (or just "No").
I am confused with (or just "No"), so the meaning of the answer is that instead of "No, he isn't", just "No" is fine for the same meaning of "No, he isn't", right?

Thank you so much as usual and I am sorry for asking so late again.
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Hans51I am confused with (or just "No"), so the meaning of the answer is that instead of "No, he isn't", just "No" is fine for the same meaning of "No, he isn't", right?
You can answer "No, he isn't" or you can just answer "No".
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