why is that answer?

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Lynn3

#153427 Mon, 31 Oct 05 06:48 AM

two people's converstaion

...

A: Does that mean that there will be no investigation of the accident?

B: No, it doesn't. There will be an investigation.

Q: Why the "B" answer " No, it doesn't. and there will be an investigation."

I think. I should be "yes, it does." Right?

Thanks

Lynn

Lynn3

Joined on Fri, Aug 19 2005

Taiwan

Full Member (135)

paco2004

#153429 Mon, 31 Oct 05 06:54 AM

Hello Lynn

I think "No, it doesn't" is OK. Please consider the dialogue below.

A : "Does that mean so?"
B : "No, it doesn't (mean so)".

paco

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Beemer

#153490 Mon, 31 Oct 05 12:40 PM

'No, it doesn't' is the abbreviated version of 'No, it doesn't mean that there will be no investigation of the accident.' Since the two speakers know what A is asking, there is no need to repeat everything after 'doesn't'. B is correcting A's apparent confusion as to whether or not there will be an investigation. B could also have said simply 'No, there will be an investigation.'

Beemer

Joined on Mon, Oct 24 2005

New Member (38)

Clive

#153514 Mon, 31 Oct 05 02:24 PM

Hi,

I'd like to add a general comment.

This slight difficulty in responding when there is more than one negative involved arises quite often. 'Is it true that you are not going to stop denying your lies?'

To deal with this, we often add a comment to our reply, to clarify it. 'Yes, I will not stop denying this'. Alternatively, we may word our questions in another way, or ask a sequence of questions.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,263)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Negatives

davkett

#153759 Tue, 01 Nov 05 03:00 AM

Here's another way of interpreting A and B:

A) Does it mean that there will not be an investigation of the accident?
B) No, it doesn't mean that. It means that there will be an investigation.

davkett

Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005

Pennsylvania, USA

Senior Member (2,788)

"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay