YaelAldrich Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 (edited) We always say that here. If you don't want to do something, just say no. But my DH were talking about this today on our Shabbos afternoon walk and he said "No." can't be a complete sentence. I countered with "Stop." Implied (you) as the subject and stop as the predicate. He said no isn't a verb. What says you Oh Holy Hive Mind? He's bringing the question to his many Twitter followers. Edited January 22, 2023 by YaelAldrich 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I responded before realizing that this was a grammar question, LOL. I seem to remember reading a whole analysis of this somewhere, and I think the conclusion was that "no" is in fact a complete sentence, but I don't remember the logic. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 It's a complete sentence when used as a response, because the rest of the sentence is implied. Do you want to go for a walk? No, I don't want to go for a walk. No, I don't. No. Effectively all the same sentence. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Yes; I think it works because it is an interjection and that can be a complete sentence even without being a verb. Witness: “Please!” 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I'm with @SKL here -- is the question about substance, or grammatical parsing? "No" is a complete expression of intent. On substance, it's complete. On grammar, I would concur with your husband's observation that "no" is not a verb. However I would further observe that "No" is a response to a question, implied or explicit; and the referent question presumably has both subject and verb (ie can I take the car on Sunday? shall we invite the neighbors over for Shabbat lunch? etc) The correct answer, therefore, is Squirrel. 4 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 2 minutes ago, Quill said: Yes; I think it works because it is an interjection and that can be a complete sentence even without being a verb. Quill has nailed it. Unlike other parts of speech, like adverbs or prepositions, interjections can both stand alone and function as parts of sentences. 12 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 It’s a complete answer. The implied “rest of the sentence “ is contained in the question. “Yes” is also a complete answer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Interjections are special. 3 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilonwy Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Yes. I think in No is a complete sentence in English. In Welsh, there is no overarching word for No or Yes, and so a response to the question “Do you like bananas?” is “I do” or “I don’t”. “Can I borrow the car?” “You can’t”. Welsh grammar generally requires a response to have a verb, but English does not, and so I think No is a complete English sentence. 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I voted no 🤣 That said, I suppose it might be considered a complete sentence if the sentence part of the sentence is assumed. The people who insist that "no is a complete sentence" however don't seem to be saying this exactly. They seem to be saying that it is ok to say no without giving a reason, which isn't a grammar thing. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith-manor Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I think there is a Schoolhouse Rock song devoted to this! 😁 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Interjection! My favorite Schoolhouse Rock episode! I'll be singing this all day. Funny story. My sister is married to a musician (jazz/bar pianist.) Several years ago, he got tickets for them to see Bob Dorough, but she didn't recognize the name. Her husband just said he was a jazz musician and she was just going along to please him. He played some jazzy pieces for the first part of the concert then played this song. The lightbulb went on as the whole place sang along. She had a blast and said it was one of the most fun concerts she ever saw. 2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Yes. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 5 hours ago, Eilonwy said: Yes. I think in No is a complete sentence in English. In Welsh, there is no overarching word for No or Yes, and so a response to the question “Do you like bananas?” is “I do” or “I don’t”. “Can I borrow the car?” “You can’t”. Welsh grammar generally requires a response to have a verb, but English does not, and so I think No is a complete English sentence. Very interesting. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 I think the verbs and nouns are implied by the previous question that’s being responded to. If there’s no question before it, it’s not a complete sentence. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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