Negative questions, negative answers

Twice this week I've run into the same problem while chatting with people. As you know, most questions have a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. Example: Have you had your breakfast yet? You could answer that question with a simple yes or no. Right? That's easy and it's pretty basic English.

There is another example that isn't quite as easy to answer. If someone says, "Wow. I'm really hungry!", Then I might ask, "Haven't you had your breakfast yet?" How do you think you would answer that? Would you agree with the question and say, "Yes" or would you answer the actual question and say "No."

The answer in the second example should tell the person whether you had breakfast or not. Think of it as the opposite of the first question.

Here are the right answers to each example. The person answering the question has NOT had breakfast.

Example 1: Q. Have you had your breakfast yet? A. No. (No, I haven't had my breakfast yet.)

Example 2. Q. Haven 't you had your breakfast yet? A. No. (No, I haven't had my breakfast yet.)

In the second example it might seem proper to say, "Yes. I haven't had my breakfast yet" but that would be wrong. In a chat situation, people tend to type as few words as possible. A simple no or yes usually does the trick. Sometimes, however, you will have these kinds of negative questions that could be answered by one word, yes or no, if you use the right word. If you don't, it means that there will still be a question even after you answer it!

Example 3. (The wrong way to answer) Q. Haven 't you had your breakfast yet? A. Yes. (You are saying that you haven't had your breakfast yet but the person thinks that by saying yes, then you have had it. Get it?)

The answer to this is easy if you are me. Don't ask negative questions! But you won't always be chatting or talking to me, right? Negative questions, when used with the right tone of voice, can show disbelief. " you have not had your Breakfast yet? " This implies that the person is astonished that you have not eaten. Maybe it's NOON and you slept late.

I hope this helps you a bit and that it doesn't confuse you! Thanks for reading.