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Palinkasocsi Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Question tag

Dear Friends,

What is the question tag of the following:

He can't have bought a house, ...?

If the question tag for He must have bought a house, can't he?, then the tag for He can't have bought a house - is 'must he'?

Thanks for your help.

Palinkasocsi
  

Top answer

First queston: can he? Second question: I wouldn't mix must and can . It makes a very awkward construction.

— Philip

  • First queston: can he?
  • Second question: I wouldn't mix must and can .
  • It makes a very awkward construction.
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6 Answers
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First queston: can he?

Second question: I wouldn't mix must and can. It makes a very awkward construction.
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Dear Philip,

Which do you consider the first/second question?

Thanks
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Sorry! I interpreted your post to be two questions. If it's just one, my answer still applies.
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I would agree with Philip; I can't imagine saying:

1. He must have bought a house, can't he?

Rather:

2. He must have bought a house, mustn't he?

For a "challenging" or "menacing" tone, which implies that the statement is contentious in some way, you can use a positive tag:

3. He must have bought a house, must he?

But it would be very rare.
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Thank you Philip, MrPedantic!

Best,

Palinkasocsi
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Question tag is something if your sentences are in positive you need to change into negative sentences,n if your sentences are in negative you need to change into positive sentences.

The answers are:

He can't have bought a house,can he?

He must have bought a house,mustn't he?
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