Correct yes/no grammar

Question

I've been searching the internet with very little success on this topic.

If I asked this type of question:

So, you didn't go to the party?

What is the correct answer--

Yes, I didn't.
or
No, I didn't

Someone please help clear this up--it's driving me crazy!
Thanks

Radrook · Accepted Answer

The asker seems to assume that the person did not go to the party.
Asker could have heard this as gossip, during a conversatuon argument, via mail, or otherwise.

In any case,
"No..." is the less likely to confuse the listener.

When using "No" as an introduction you are replying to the "did not go...." part of the question with the negative '"No, I did not...."

When using "Yes,...." to start the sentence you are replying to her whole sentence with the affirmative:

"Yes, you are right in saying that I did not go."

But you have to be careful not to pause too long after either the "Yes...." or the "No...."
Pausing too long is what will confuse the listener. The answer can be made clear by following the "Yes...." or the "No...." immediately with an explanation.

So you did not go to the party?

Yes, you are right. I didn't go to the party.

or

No, I did not go to the party.

The person asking the question will understand that you mean that yes, he is right in saying that you did not go to the party

The problem with saying: "Yes...." is that the immediate affirmation might lead to the initial impression that the asker was wrong in her assumption that you did not go. it seems like a contradiction to "did not go...." and comes accross as "Yes I did!"

Especially if you allow a long pause after the word "Yes....."

Correct yes/no grammar

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions