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Xabache Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Asking a negative question
Asking a negative question...
“Not even allowed inside?”
“No, I'd never get past the butler.”
Or is it
“Yes, I'd never get past the butler.”
And if so why does that sound so wrong to me? I would never under any circumstance respond yes... it's against everything i know about English. We don't betray our message in the first word, unless that first word were the only word. But saying yes i'd never get past the butler, sounds like both a negative but then also as a postive response.
So what is literally correct, and if yes is, why does no one use this form in everyday life?
“Not even allowed inside?”
“No, I'd never get past the butler.”
Or is it
“Yes, I'd never get past the butler.”
And if so why does that sound so wrong to me? I would never under any circumstance respond yes... it's against everything i know about English. We don't betray our message in the first word, unless that first word were the only word. But saying yes i'd never get past the butler, sounds like both a negative but then also as a postive response.
So what is literally correct, and if yes is, why does no one use this form in everyday life?
Top answer
It doesn't matter if the question is negative or positive. Yes means yes, I would get past the butler. No means I would not ( would never ) get past the butler.
- It doesn't matter if the question is negative or positive.
- Yes means yes, I would get past the butler.
- No means I would not ( would never ) get past the butler.
- Let's see another example : Don't you like me ?
- Yes, I like you.
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4 Answers
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It doesn't matter if the question is negative or positive. Yes means yes, I would get past the butler. No means I would not ( would never ) get past the butler. Let's see another example :
Don't you like me ? Yes, I like you. No, I don't like you.
Do you like me? Yes, I like you. No, I don't like you.
The negative question does not reverse the word 'yes'.
Don't you like me ? Yes, I like you. No, I don't like you.
Do you like me? Yes, I like you. No, I don't like you.
The negative question does not reverse the word 'yes'.
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Xabache“No, I'd never get past the butler.” Or is it“Yes, I'd never get past the butler.”It's "No".
CJ
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So the original phrase is correct, another case of if it feels right, just do it.
thank you for your explanation.
thank you for your explanation.
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