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yes and no

Answers to negatives​

In English, yes is used with affirmative sentences and no with negative sentences. In answers to negative questions and statements, yes and no are chosen according to the form of the answer, not in order to show agreement or disagreement with the speaker.

  • ‘Aren’t you going out?’ ‘No, I’m not.’ (not Yes, I’m not.)
  • ‘I have no money.’ ‘No, I haven’t either.’ (not Yes, I haven’t too.)
  • ‘Haven’t you got a raincoat?’ ‘Yes, I have.’ (not No, I have.)

Contradicting​

Some languages have a special word for contradicting negative statements or suggestions (e.g. French si or German doch). English does not have a word like this. We often use a short answer structure (see here).

  • ‘The phone isn’t working.’ ‘(Yes,) it is.’ (not ‘The phone isn’t working.’ ‘Yes.’)

Affirmative sentences are contradicted with negative short answers.

  • ‘It’s raining.’ ‘(No,) it isn’t.’
note

For more about negative questions, (see here).

For yes and no in answers to Do/Would you mind …?, (see here).