tyrp
Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2011
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Ukraine
- Current Location
- Ukraine
Hello,
Could you help me with the following. What is the correct way to agree with the speaker and confirm his/her statement in questions starting with "Do you know/think/etc" if they are followed by a negative information-giving clause?
E.g. Do you think Mary isn't Bob's girlfriend? - No, she's his sister (a). OR Yes, she's his sister (b)
If it were just a question, everything would be easy:
Isn't Mary Bob's girlfriend? - No, she's his sister.
But in "Do you know/think/etc"-questions does the "No"-component refer to the part with "know/think etc" or to the information provided in the clause?
I'm more than a bit perplexed.
Thanks a million for your help!
Could you help me with the following. What is the correct way to agree with the speaker and confirm his/her statement in questions starting with "Do you know/think/etc" if they are followed by a negative information-giving clause?
E.g. Do you think Mary isn't Bob's girlfriend? - No, she's his sister (a). OR Yes, she's his sister (b)
If it were just a question, everything would be easy:
Isn't Mary Bob's girlfriend? - No, she's his sister.
But in "Do you know/think/etc"-questions does the "No"-component refer to the part with "know/think etc" or to the information provided in the clause?
I'm more than a bit perplexed.
Thanks a million for your help!