negatives

I need help
when someone says
"so u don't like it"
and u say no
does that mean u like it or you don't like it
I get confused from that
please help

 

Literally speaking, answering "no" to that question would mean that you did like it. But a lot of people would answer no meaning that they didn't like it. Confusing, ergo most people would use a qualifying statement afterwards, e.g. "No, I don't like it".

 

okay
thanks

 

As Banzai said. Beyond that, the context of the conversation, nonverbal cues, and following dialogue should clarify the response's meaning.

Terry

 

Well, I looked this up to see if I could quickly find any grammar sites that would explain which is right... didn't find anything.
So I'll go with my first impression.
If someone said, "Do you like this?", you could respond, "No, I do not like it," or "Yes, I do like it." But you could simply say 'no' or 'yes' to mean the same things respectively. I'd imagine, then, that if someone said "You don't like this?", if you say 'yes' or 'no' what you're really saying is "Yes, I don't like it," and "No, I don't don't like it" - which is of course a double negative so it really means that you do like it.
Hopefully that makes sense. In short, I believe that saying 'no' would mean that you do like it.

Edit: and I took too long to type this... so sorry for reiterating what was already said. =)

 

To make it easier to understand:

"So you don't like it?"

"Correct."

Correct = Yes = You don't like it.

"So you don't like it?"

"Incorrect."

Incorrect = No = You like it.

Actually, that was probably even more confusing...

 

What you put was right, but no one would answer "incorrect"...

 

I know that. Just trying to make it easier for the OP to understand. And you've obviously never met my step-father.

 

This thread is interesting.

But this happens to me sometimes, too.

"You don't like it?"
"No." I take it to mean "No. I don't." Unless their pitch indicates that that isn't what they meant at all. They should probably elaborate, though, if they are going to speak to you in hopes that you might take their meaning.

 

If "No" isn't the correct answer, perhaps you should rephrase the question .

 

good one, sage!

we were taught in grade school that 'a double negative makes a positive'... made things simple enough for us old folk!