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Makiasan Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
No, I do.
When I watched an American TV drama the other day I found a conversation like this;
Mother) You don't understand.
Child) No, I do.
I've learned that you always have to answer with a combination of " Yes, I do" or " No, I don't."
I understand that the child means that "No that's not right. I understand," but is this combination of "No, I do," or "Yes, I don't," possible?
If so, when somebody says to you like,
"I thought you don't like this color,"
and that you answer,
"No,"
this "no" generally means "No, I do,(I like it)" or "No, I don't (I don't like it)"??
Mother) You don't understand.
Child) No, I do.
I've learned that you always have to answer with a combination of " Yes, I do" or " No, I don't."
I understand that the child means that "No that's not right. I understand," but is this combination of "No, I do," or "Yes, I don't," possible?
If so, when somebody says to you like,
"I thought you don't like this color,"
and that you answer,
"No,"
this "no" generally means "No, I do,(I like it)" or "No, I don't (I don't like it)"??
Top answer
Child) No, I do. This is wrong. You should choose yes or no depending on the form of the answer (Yes, I do or No, I don't), not in order to show agreement (or disagreement) with the speaker.
- Child) No, I do.
- This is wrong.
- You should choose yes or no depending on the form of the answer (Yes, I do or No, I don't), not in order to show agreement (or disagreement) with the speaker.
- He should have said Yes, I do.
- As a reply to your question, one should answer No, I don't (if you don't like this color)
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8 Answers
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MakiasanWhen I watched an American TV drama the other day I found a conversation like this;Mother) You don't understand.Child) No, I do.This is wrong. You should choose yes or no depending on the form of the answer (Yes, I do or No, I don't), not in order to show agreement (or disagreement) with the speaker.
He should have said
Yes,
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In this case, the child was saying "No, Mom, you're wrong. I DO understand."
Generally, your understanding is correct, but it's wrong to say that this bit of dialogue was "incorrect."
Generally, your understanding is correct, but it's wrong to say that this bit of dialogue was "incorrect."
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Grammar Geek,
Thank you for the reply.
Does this type of conversation ('You don't understand.' 'No, I do.') happen quite often? Have you ever replied like this??
Maki
Thank you for the reply.
Does this type of conversation ('You don't understand.' 'No, I do.') happen quite often? Have you ever replied like this??
Maki
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I'm sure it happens very often.
The key difference is that it wasn't a QUESTION - it was a statement.
The "no" refuted the assertion made by the statement.
Questions:
Is he coming? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
He isn't coming, is he? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
He's coming, isn't he? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
A statement of belief that he will not coming:
The key difference is that it wasn't a QUESTION - it was a statement.
The "no" refuted the assertion made by the statement.
Questions:
Is he coming? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
He isn't coming, is he? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
He's coming, isn't he? No, he's not. Yes, he is.
A statement of belief that he will not coming:
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Grammar Geek
Thank you very so much! Your explanation is wonderful!
Now I understand this completely!!
Maki
Thank you very so much! Your explanation is wonderful!
Now I understand this completely!!
Maki
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Sorry - I made a mistake when I wrote "that he will not coming." I meant to write "that he will not be coming" or "that he will not come" and ended up writing something that was a mashup up of the two and incorrect.
But the main point got through!
But the main point got through!
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