When to answer YES and when to answer NO.

Question

Hello,I'm always being confused when answering YES/NO. Could anybody help me on this?For example, (suppose the answer is positive, i.e. agrees with what the first speaker says)- We can't make it, can we?        - NO.- We can't make it?                - NO.But for some more complicated ones, I don't know how to answer. E.g.- I don't think we can make it.   - How to answer?- We can't make it, right?        - How to answer?Thanks in advance!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I'm always being confused when answering YES/NO. Could anybody help me on this?

For example, (suppose the answer is positive, i.e. agrees with what the first speaker says)
- We can't make it, can we? - NO.
- We can't make it? - NO.
Yes, we seem to have no difficulty understanding the above.

But for some more complicated ones, I don't know how to answer. E.g.

When we sense there may be some confusion, we usually answer in a clearer way. eg
- I don't think we can make it. - How to answer? No, we can't. or Yes, we can.
- We can't make it, right? - How to answer? Same as above.

So, although this may look like a difficult aspect of th language, it usually causes no communication problems.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks so much for your quick reply!

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous- I don't think we can make it. - How to answer?

I don't think so either. / Yes we can; you'll see!

Anonymous- We can't make it, right? - How to answer?

To begin with, it's a poor question, but in any case --
I don't think so. / Probably not. / It doesn't look like it. /
Why not? / Time will tell. / You never know.
____
Don't assume that you have to answer Yes or No!!!
CJ

When to answer YES and when to answer NO.

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