0
Jet Li Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

A Tag Question

The minister said to his under-secretary: “You will check that all the details are correct, ----?”

A) aren’t you
B) will you
C) could you
D) won’t you
E) are they

I'd go for "B" because this sentence has an order and a confirmation...

What about your opinions?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

D. These endings are a bit odd in that they always have the reverse of the main verb. Will/won't.

— Nona the brit

  • D.
  • These endings are a bit odd in that they always have the reverse of the main verb.
  • Will/won't.
  • ", then B would have been correct.
  • Won't/will.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

10 Answers
0
D. These endings are a bit odd in that they always have the reverse of the main verb. Will/won't.

If the sentence had been

The minister said: "You won't step on my toe, ___?", then B would have been correct. Won't/will.
0
0
Nona is right. However, some writers -- Agatha Christie is one of them -- don't always use tag questions the way Nona describes.
Here are some rules, even though some writers take liberties:

1. affirmative - negative
He went there, didn't he?
You
0
0
The minister said to his under-secretary: “You will check that all the details are correct, ----?”

A) aren’t you
B) will you
C) could you
D) won’t you
E) are they

I'd go for "B" because this sentence has an order and a confirmation...

Hi, Nona,

Are there any complex tag sentences used by the English?

But, the answer was given "B"
0
0
We should envy the French for their all-inclusive "n'est-ce pas?".....................Emotion: wink
0
0
Or simply "...., non?" Emotion: smile

CJ
0
0
the answer was given "B"

The answer can only be B if we know ahead of time that the minister doubted very much that the under-secretary would be able to check that the details were correct, and that the minister was using a challenging tone of voice to indicate this strong doubt.

Alternately, with B, the minister may be showing his objection to the
0
0
CalifJim
the answer was given "B"
Absent such extra-linguistic cues, only D is correct.

CJ

Hi, Jim. This is an interesting sentence. Is it kind of reduction? I gues this is what it means: "Such extra-linguistic cues being absent, only D is correct."
0
0
Replace the word "absent" with "without."

Tag questions can be tricky, non?
0
0
I gues[ s ] it means: "Such extra-linguistic cues being absent, only D is correct."

Yes.

CJ
0
0
Jet LiThe minister said to his under-secretary: “You will check that all the details are correct, ----?” A) aren’t you B) will you C) could you D) won’t you E) are they I'd go for "B" because this sentence has an order and a confirmation... What about your opinions? Thanks in advance.
The only logical and correct answer can only be [D]. I can't see how is cor
0

Related Questions