negative echo: 'No' agreeing with a negative statement (GiU Unit 23 context)
The frame
Section titled “The frame”A: This food doesn’t taste good, does it? B: No, I’m not going to finish it. ✓
No = “No, it doesn’t taste good” — agreeing with A’s negative judgment. Then B explains the consequence: decision already made → I’m not going to (going to = present-evidence plan, not will-spontaneous).
Echo rule — agree with the polarity, not your action
Section titled “Echo rule — agree with the polarity, not your action”| A says | B agrees | B disagrees |
|---|---|---|
| It’s not good, is it? | No, it isn’t ✓ | Yes, it is |
| It’s good, isn’t it? | Yes, it is | No, it isn’t |
The tag (is it?/isn’t it?) asks confirm the statement. “No” answers “you’re right, it doesn’t”. Indonesian speakers trip: “No” here = setuju (benar, tidak enak), not refusal.
Why “going to” not “will”
Section titled “Why “going to” not “will””B’s refusal is a decision already made (from tasting — present evidence) → I’m going to / not going to. will = spontaneous decision at the moment of speech (“I’ll have the fish”) — but B already knows the food’s bad.
| will | going to | |
|---|---|---|
| Decision time | now, spontaneous | before now, planned/evidenced |
| Frame | deciding as you speak | reacting to what you already know |
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 23 — I will and I’m going to. Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.