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Didihindi Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Question tags
Hello everybody,
I am new here. I know there are a lot of things on tags but can anybody help me with the followings :
Express surprise:
The President has just dissolved Parliament. He can't have. I really don't understand this one.
Express sarcasm
He has just bought a Maserati. Oh, he has, has he?
Express agreement
The sea has got choppy ! Yes it has, hasn't it ?
Express disagreement
I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party. No, you needn't. (Why not use must ?)
Express disagreement
He can't have missed his flight. No, he can't have. (???)
Express confirmation
"She's rather clever." "Yes, she is, isn't she".
I thought the rule was : affirmative sentence - negative tag
negative sentence - affirmative tag
Obviously there is a lot more to it. Does anyone has a good grammar reference I can use to understand this ?
Thanks a lot
Didi
I am new here. I know there are a lot of things on tags but can anybody help me with the followings :
Express surprise:
The President has just dissolved Parliament. He can't have. I really don't understand this one.
Express sarcasm
He has just bought a Maserati. Oh, he has, has he?
Express agreement
The sea has got choppy ! Yes it has, hasn't it ?
Express disagreement
I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party. No, you needn't. (Why not use must ?)
Express disagreement
He can't have missed his flight. No, he can't have. (???)
Express confirmation
"She's rather clever." "Yes, she is, isn't she".
I thought the rule was : affirmative sentence - negative tag
negative sentence - affirmative tag
Obviously there is a lot more to it. Does anyone has a good grammar reference I can use to understand this ?
Thanks a lot
Didi
Top answer
Hello Didi, and welcome to English Forums. Express disagreement I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party. No, you needn't.
- Hello Didi, and welcome to English Forums.
- Express disagreement I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party.
- No, you needn't.
- -- Because the negation of 'must' is not 'mustn't'-- which has a different meaning-- but 'needn't' ) I thought the rule was : affirmative sentence - negative tag; negative sentence - affirmative tag' Obviously there is a lot more to it.
- -- You can start [url=] HERE [/url].
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2 Answers
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Hello Didi, and welcome to English Forums.
Express disagreement
I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party. No, you needn't. (Why not use must ?-- Because the negation of 'must' is not 'mustn't'-- which has a different meaning-- but 'needn't')
I thought the rule was : affirmative sentence - negative tag; negative sentence - affirmative tag'
Obviously
Express disagreement
I suppose I must dress up for the cocktail party. No, you needn't. (Why not use must ?-- Because the negation of 'must' is not 'mustn't'-- which has a different meaning-- but 'needn't')
I thought the rule was : affirmative sentence - negative tag; negative sentence - affirmative tag'
Obviously
00
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