ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: You mean...No!

paco2004 — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 03:30:43 GMT

Thanks for the confirmation, CJ.

paco

Re: You mean...No!

CalifJim — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 03:22:49 GMT

I think you're right, Paco.

Re: You mean...No!

paco2004 — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 02:27:10 GMT

Hello VC and CJ

Thanks for the quick replies. My trouble comes from the phrase the positive "you mean". Now I feel you would take it as some kind of short tug like "maybe" or so. How about the case where the convesation goes like this:
Speaker A:"Do you mean you don't like to go to school?"
Speaker B:"No!"
I think in this case Speaker B is definitely saying "No I don't mean that". Am I right?

paco

Re: You mean...No!

CalifJim — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 02:05:55 GMT

It's ambiguous in writing. We need to know what stress pattern was used when "No" was said.

A falling intonation would normally indicate "No, I don't like to go to school".
A rising intonation would normally indicate "No, I don't mean that" or "No, that's not what I mean".

Intonation is not a foolproof indicator, however, so if you yourself are the speaker, I'd recommend you not use such a terse reply to such questions!

CJ

Re: You mean...No!

victorycountry — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 01:56:18 GMT

Yes, you are right, it means that Speaker B doesn't like to go to school.

Say "yes" to reflect the positive, "no" to reflect the negative answer of the primary verb.

Speaker A: "You mean you don't like to go to school?"
Speaker B: "Yes!(, I do like to go to school)"
or
Speaker B:"No!(, I don't like to go to school)"

You mean...No!

paco2004 — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 01:25:17 GMT

Conversation in a movie:
Speaker A :"You mean you don't like to go to school?”
Speaker B:"No!"

What does this "No!" mean?
Does it mean Speaker B doesn't like to go to school?