Diamondrg  +  168169 Fri, 09 Dec 05 07:58 PM Can’t we visit Jane another day? 1- Yes, we can. 2- No, we can't. Are 1 and 2 correct? And what do they mean? Diamondrg Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005 Contributing Member 1,043

	CalifJim  +  168200 Fri, 09 Dec 05 10:12 PM They are correct. 1.  Yes, we can visit Jane another day.  We don't have to visit her on .... (the day previously suggested in the conversation). 2.  No, we cannot visit Jane another day.  We have to visit her on ... (...as above...). The way the question is asked, the questioner shows he is hoping for Answer 1 and shows that he is hoping not to have to visit on the day suggested or requested earlier. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,452 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Conversations

	Diamondrg  +  168214 Fri, 09 Dec 05 10:56 PM We can’t visit Jane another day, can we? 1a- No, we can't. 1b-Yes, we can. We can visit Jane another day, can't we? 1a-Yes, we can. 1b-No, we can't. Are all correct and natural? Is the questioner hoping for 1a and 2a? can these questions be answered as short as this?   Diamondrg

	CalifJim  +  168314 Sat, 10 Dec 05 07:54 AM They're correct and mostly natural.  Only the first 1b seems a little too short.  It seems that a more natural answer might be something like "Well, actually, we can, if it's really important to you". There is no 2a. In the first set, the questioner is hoping for 1b the way I read it -- although there seems to be an expectation that the answer will be 1a. In the second set, the questioner has no real hopes or expectations -- perhaps a slight expectation that the answer will be 1a. Many of these types of phrases are very dependent on intonation contours and tone of voice.  You'd do better to have someone illustrate them in person. CJ CalifJim Intonations

	Diamondrg  +  168321 Sat, 10 Dec 05 09:00 AM What you wrote is quite explanatory Calif Jim. Thank you. Yes, I think so. A) Will Jane's husband be there, too? B) She won't be late, will she? Would you choose A? And from what you wrote above, I understand that B is hoping the answer to be "Yes, she will. (but is it really clear?) and thinks that the answer will be "No, she won't." (this is easier to understand)  And in answer to B, are these natural?: 1a-Yes, she will. / Yes, I think so. (and do these two mean the same thing?) 1b- No, she won't. / No, I don't think so. (and do these mean the same?)  Diamondrg

	CalifJim  +  168650 Sun, 11 Dec 05 06:52 AM As to choosing A, I'm not sure in which context the choice is to be made. Let's concentrate on your other question for now. "She won't be late, will she?" implies some worry that she might be late. I assume the speaker hopes the answer will be a reassuring "No, she won't" and not a disappointing "I'm afraid you're right. She'll probably be late as usual." (Sometimes the emotion is hope, sometimes fear, when stating a negative with an affirmative tag.  The shade of meaning can also be affected by the modal  --  "can", "must", "may", "will", etc. -- if there is one in the sentence.) CJ CalifJim Negatives, Modals

	Diamondrg  +  168671 Sun, 11 Dec 05 09:24 AM  CalifJim wrote: As to choosing A, I'm not sure in which context the choice is to be made. CJ Thank you, Jim. There is no context. It was asked in a nationwide exam.  "Which one is the question to this answer?" says the question. The answer was declared to be A. But I think B might be a good candidate, too. what do you think? Diamondrg Dates

	CalifJim  +  168781 Sun, 11 Dec 05 06:20 PM Aha!  I didn't understand that the order was reversed, and that one of the choices A or B comes before the header material in an actual conversation.  A is the better answer, yes.  B is not really so good. "She won't be late, will she?" is asking for reassurance that she won't be late, so "Yes, I think so" would not be a very appropriate thing to say in response.  A more appropriate response would be "Don't worry.  She won't be late." or "No.  Of course not." I hope that helped more than my previous post!  (It would have helped if I had understood the question!  ) CJ CalifJim Conversations