Be careful answering negative questions in English as a wrong answer may be confusing. By negative questions I mean sentences like : "Doesn’t it often rain in Spain?” or "Isn’t he the one who refused?”
Actually negative questions are used in English for 3 reasons.
1) To express surprise: (Wow, I thought you had left.) Didn’t you go to Le Havre last week?
2) To show that you are excited about something. In this case you will use rather an exclamation than a question: Gee, doesn’t this guy look familiar?
3) When we expect that everyone will agree with us: Who doesn’t like to travel? No-one. (Everybody does)
If the statement expressed is true (I really went to Le Havre last week; the guy looks familiar), you should answer "Yes, I did. I went to Le Havre last week.” "Yes, he does. The guy does look familiar.”
If the statement is wrong (I went to Le Havre), the answer is NO. Didn’t you go to Le Havre last week? The answer is Yes, I did. I went to Le Havre last week.
To practice it you may use a trick that usually works with all students:
Question: Is it never possible?
Answer: No, you are right, it is not (possible). No, it isn’t!
Answer: No, you are wrong, it is possible.
Question: You didn’t answer the letter?
Answer: That’s true, I didn’t answer the letter. No, I didn’t
Answer: You are not right, I answered the letter. Yes, I did.
Question: Didn’t you manage to meet the deadline?
Answer: Yes, you are right, I didn’t meet the deadline. No, I didn’t
Answer: No, that is not true, I met the deadline. Yes, I did. | 