Answering negative sentences

[Nightright]

I am an English learner and have a question to the following American-English conversation, so can a native American-English Speaker please help me?

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No they aren´t.

The "no" confuses me. So I ask myself what Cathy want's to say with her answer:
a) That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.
b) I agree, They are not the same.

 

[GoesStation]

I am an English learner and have a question about [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] the following American-English conversation. Will [STRIKE], so can[/STRIKE] a native American-English [STRIKE]S[/STRIKE] speaker please help me?

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No they aren´t.

The "no" confuses me. So I ask myself what Cathy wants [STRIKE]want's[/STRIKE] to say with her answer:
a) That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.
b) I agree, They are not the same.

The answer is b).

 

[Tarheel]

I am an English learner and have a question to the following American-English conversation, so can a native American-English Speaker please help me?

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No they aren´t.

The "no" confuses me. So I ask myself what Cathy want's to say with her answer:
a) That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.
b) I agree, They are not the same.

Cathy is expressing agreement (b)..

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

I have a question about the following American English conversation.

 

[Tdol]

a) That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.

Yes, they are could supply this meaning.

 

[Nightright]

Hello and thank you for your answers and help.

Yes, they are could supply this meaning.

This is confusing me now. While "Goesstation" and "Tarheel" said Cathy agrees with Bryans statement "they are not the same" you say she disagrees and thinks they are the same?

 

[MikeNewYork]

That is not what Tdol said. He said that his response agrees with answer A.

 

[Nightright]

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No they aren´t.

The "no" confuses me. So I ask myself what Cathy want's to say with her answer:
a) That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.
b) I agree, They are not the same.

Well I'm confused now. Goesstation and Tarheel say it's B and Tdol A, but I'm realy confused now what's more logical in American English.

 

[GoesStation]

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No they aren´t.

Cathy is agreeing with Bryan. She could also agree with a statement like "no, this one is bigger than that one." If she wanted to contradict the speaker, she'd say "yes they are."

I agree, English makes this confusing. French is more logical in this area, at least: you use oui for the two concurring statements and si to contradict the assertion.

 

[Nightright]

So all in all the right meaning is:

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No [I agree], they aren´t [the same].

Correct?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Correct.

 

[Tdol]

This is confusing me now. While "Goesstation" and "Tarheel" said Cathy agrees with Bryans statement "they are not the same" you say she disagrees and thinks they are the same?

No, I didn't. I said that it would be like this:

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: No, they aren´t. (= b I agree, They are not the same.)

Bryan: But they are not the same then.
Cathy: Yes, they are. (= a That's wrong. In my opinion they are the same.)

Is that clearer now? :up:

 

[Nightright]

Yes Thank you
Just to make sure I understand the opening statement of Bryan correct:
The words "but" and "then" in his sentence "but they are not the same then" don't change the meaning so:
"but they are not the same then." = "they are not the same.", correct?

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, he is saying they are not the same.

 

[Nightright]

Thx, so all in all we can say that both (Bryan and Cathy) think the things they are talking about are not the same, correct?

 

[Tdol]

We can.

 

[Nightright]

Im a bit confused.

Your answer (We can) = Both (Bryan and Cathy) agree that the things they are talking about are not the same, correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

You asked "So we can say ... ?" and Tdol replied "We can". Surely you understand that that means you are right? Effectively, Tdol said "Yes, we can".

So yes, we can say that both Bryan and Cathy agree that the things they are talking about are not the same.

 

[Tdol]

Im a bit confused.

Your answer (We can) = Both (Bryan and Cathy) agree that the things they are talking about are not the same, correct?

Is there a realistic alternative interpretation?

 

[Nightright]

I am not sure if you think there is only a small chance/possibility for this interpretation or that it is the best and only interpretation, that both (Bryan and Cathy) agree that the things they are talking about are not the same.