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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
tag ending
It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed, ----?
a) is it b) does it c) doesn't it d) isn't it e) didn't it
which is correct?
a) is it b) does it c) doesn't it d) isn't it e) didn't it
which is correct?
Top answer
" is the correct tag, Anon. Where the main verb phrase uses a form of "to be", "to have", or a modal, then that's the verb that appears in the tag. ", which is a sarcastic phrase.
- " is the correct tag, Anon.
- Where the main verb phrase uses a form of "to be", "to have", or a modal, then that's the verb that appears in the tag.
- ", which is a sarcastic phrase.
- Positive verb + positive tag can denote sarcasm.
- MrP
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4 Answers
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"Is it?" is the correct tag, Anon.
Where the main verb phrase uses a form of "to be", "to have", or a modal, then that's the verb that appears in the tag.
Here, you have "it is hardly likely...", which is a sarcastic phrase.
Positive verb + positive tag can denote sarcasm.
MrP
Where the main verb phrase uses a form of "to be", "to have", or a modal, then that's the verb that appears in the tag.
Here, you have "it is hardly likely...", which is a sarcastic phrase.
Positive verb + positive tag can denote sarcasm.
MrP
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"hardly" introduces negative polarity, so all tags after a clause with "hardly" are affirmative.
He has hardly finished his meal, has he?
It's hardly noticeable, is it?
He hardly worked at all today, did he?
CJ
He has hardly finished his meal, has he?
It's hardly noticeable, is it?
He hardly worked at all today, did he?
CJ
00
Hello Mr A !
As a tag question is used to ask for comfirmation of something we are not sure, we usually use the forms " affirmative statement + negative short question" and "negative statement + affirmative short question".
1 He went to school yesterday, didn't he ?
2 He didn't go to school yesterday, did he ?
However, when we ask for confirmation of
As a tag question is used to ask for comfirmation of something we are not sure, we usually use the forms " affirmative statement + negative short question" and "negative statement + affirmative short question".
1 He went to school yesterday, didn't he ?
2 He didn't go to school yesterday, did he ?
However, when we ask for confirmation of
00
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