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Guillermicro Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Rhetorical questions
I've been hearing lately expresisons such as "I don't want that... Or do I?" or "I am so mad... Or am I?".
This seems to confuse me, since it looks like the first part of the sentence can be both in affirmative or negative form.
Are both correct?
thanks in advance.
This seems to confuse me, since it looks like the first part of the sentence can be both in affirmative or negative form.
Are both correct?
thanks in advance.
Top answer
Yeah, you're right. Those statements are negative and affirmative, respectively. The purpose of a rhetorical question is really to prove a point or persuade someone that you are correct or that something is a certain way.
- Yeah, you're right.
- Those statements are negative and affirmative, respectively.
- The purpose of a rhetorical question is really to prove a point or persuade someone that you are correct or that something is a certain way.
- sorry!
- I mean, sure, they don't really require an answer, but they're more examples of people thinking out loud than anything else.
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7 Answers
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Yeah, you're right. Those statements are negative and affirmative, respectively. The purpose of a rhetorical question is really to prove a point or persuade someone that you are correct or that something is a certain way. I can't really think of an example of a rhetorical question right now...sorry!
Those questions above aren't really rhetorical questions...I mean, sure, they don't r
Those questions above aren't really rhetorical questions...I mean, sure, they don't r
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Thanks for replying.
Maybe rather than rhetorical questions they are more like question tags, but my point is: are those two sentences constructed correctly? I mean, I've heard them, but that doesn't make them correct. I was dubious because question tags are usually constructed in the opposite form of the main phrase (i.e: if the main clause is negative the question tag is positive, and vice
Maybe rather than rhetorical questions they are more like question tags, but my point is: are those two sentences constructed correctly? I mean, I've heard them, but that doesn't make them correct. I was dubious because question tags are usually constructed in the opposite form of the main phrase (i.e: if the main clause is negative the question tag is positive, and vice
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Hmmm...this one's over my head. Sorry! Maybe one of our more qualified members can help you out with this one...
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Hello, Gillermicro. 
There are four possibilities in English for question-tags: the verb in the main clause can be either affirm
There are four possibilities in English for question-tags: the verb in the main clause can be either affirm
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"I don't want that... or do I?"
"I am so mad... or am I?".
It sounds like quotations from someone who is confused and thinking to themselves, trying to decide what to do.
In the first situation, imagine a lovely lady named Mary who is a little bit overweight. She is at a restaurant and having lunch with friends. They finish the main course and the waiter brings a delicious desse
"I am so mad... or am I?".
It sounds like quotations from someone who is confused and thinking to themselves, trying to decide what to do.
In the first situation, imagine a lovely lady named Mary who is a little bit overweight. She is at a restaurant and having lunch with friends. They finish the main course and the waiter brings a delicious desse
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You do realize you're answering a question from July, 2004, don't you?
The only reason this thread came up again is that someo
The only reason this thread came up again is that someo
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