Systems and methods for determining whether a negation statement applies to a current or past query

A method for determining whether an ambiguous statement applies to a first query or second query comprises receiving 1002 a first search query from a user. A syntactic mapping 1006 and contextual mapping 1008 of the first query are determined. A second search query is received 1014, syntactic 1016 and contextual 1018 mappings for it are determined, and it is merged 1020 with the first query. Syntactic and contextual analysis is performed 1022 on the merged query. It is determined 1024 whether syntactic mappings for the second query and the portion of the merged query corresponding to the second query are equivalent. If they are, a contextual mapping of the second or merged query is selected 1034 based on user contextual information, e.g. past user behaviour. Using the context information, the control circuitry selects 1036 a media asset that is related to the first and second queries.