both vs neither implying a negative response

[ademoglu]

Hi

I've tried to write the conversation below but I cannot be sure what I should say at the end.

The man: You have not been in town in five minutes and you have managed to attact gentlemen admirers.
The girl: They are not.
The man: Not gentlemen or not admirers?
The girl: Both. / Neither. (The girl wants to say that they are neither gentlemen nor admirers)

Should the girl say 'both' or 'neither' as a short answer at the end? I think 'neither' works but I am not sure.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Neither" is the best answer, but "both" is understandable.

 

[teechar]

Hi,

I've tried to write the conversation below, but I cannot be sure what I should say at the end.

The man: You have not been in town [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] five minutes and you have managed to attract gentlemen admirers.
The girl: They are not.
The man: Not gentlemen or not admirers?
The girl: Both. / Neither. (The girl wants to say that they are neither gentlemen nor admirers)

Should the girl say 'both' or 'neither' as a short answer at the end? I think 'neither' works, but I am not sure.

You've answered your own question; "neither" is the correct answer.

Note also that in an ordinary conversation, contractions are more likely than full forms. Hence, it's more likely to be "you've" instead of "you have".

 

[emsr2d2]

You have not been in town in five minutes ... :cross:
You have not been in town for five minutes ... :tick: (as Piscean said)
You haven't been in town five minutes ... :tick: (Heard in BrE)

 

[GoesStation]

You haven't been is much more common in American English than you've not been.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You haven't been is much more common in American English than you've not been.

Right. I don't think I've ever heard "You've not been" in conversation.

 

[Rover_KE]

Not even in British films (movies) or TV shows, Charlie?

 

[emsr2d2]

Ademoglu, I have a suggestion for you. In future, if you create a dialogue, please give the characters names! It's very odd for us to keep reading "The man" and "The woman". Just pick generic names for the participants.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Not even in British films (movies) or TV shows, Charlie?

What? There are British filmmakers in Hollywood?