affirmative
part of speech
adjective (affirmative); noun (the affirmative)
meaning for a pupil
1) Affirmative means saying "yes" or agreeing. tree →
2) In grammar, an affirmative sentence is a positive statement, not a negative one ("I like cats" not "I don't like cats"). tree →
3) "Affirmative!" (informal) is a way of saying yes, as in films with soldiers or pilots. tree →
4) Affirmative action (USA) means policies to help groups who have been treated unfairly. tree →
sense in the lessons
In English grammar lessons it contrasts with negative sentences. In debates, the affirmative side argues for the motion. Phrases: in the affirmative, affirmative sentence, affirmative answer.
examples
- "I can swim" is an affirmative sentence. tree →
- She answered in the affirmative: yes. tree →
- "Affirmative, captain!" tree →
- The affirmative team spoke first in the debate. tree →
- Change the negative sentence into the affirmative. tree →
- He nodded, an affirmative sign. tree →
- She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn’t sure. tree →
note
Opposite: negative. Formal; everyday word: yes, positive. Verb: affirm.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «affirmative» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.