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What is the reply to the question `You didn't' like him, eh?' Should it be `No, I didn't' or `Yes, I didn't'?

(M. R. Srinivasan, Chennai)

If you would like to agree with the speaker, and say that you did not like the person, then the standard reply to the question is, `No, I didn't'. You do not say, `Yes, I didn't like him.' If you wish to indicate agreement with a negative statement, you normally say, `No', and not `Yes'.

*Your sister is not an easy person to work with, is she? No, she isn't.

S. UPENDRAN

upendrankye@gmail.com

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