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Grammarian-bot Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Tag ending questions.
Does the question below has one independent clause or two.
1. No one could be seen, could he?
If it has two independent clauses then he would be replaced by they. Otherwise, it's correct.
GB
1. No one could be seen, could he?
If it has two independent clauses then he would be replaced by they. Otherwise, it's correct.
GB
Top answer
Interesting question. Tag questions seem to be comment clauses without a conjunction, which makes them dependent clauses, I suppose. I cannot see the connection between type of clause and pronoun choice, however.
- Interesting question.
- Tag questions seem to be comment clauses without a conjunction, which makes them dependent clauses, I suppose.
- I cannot see the connection between type of clause and pronoun choice, however.
- The pronoun of a tag sentence normally echoes the subject of the main clause.
- In your sentence, they is acceptable, as we seem no longer to have an appropriate singular nonsexist pronoun.
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4 Answers
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Interesting question. Tag questions seem to be comment clauses without a conjunction, which makes them dependent clauses, I suppose. I cannot see the connection between type of clause and pronoun choice, however.
The pronoun of a tag sentence normally echoes the subject of the main clause. In your sentence, they is acceptable, as we seem no longer to have an appropriate singular
The pronoun of a tag sentence normally echoes the subject of the main clause. In your sentence, they is acceptable, as we seem no longer to have an appropriate singular
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Well, I probably say 'could they' when I am partying and 'could he' when I am sober and on the job.
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