Tag question

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Hi.What is the tag question for the follwoing sentences.Ex. You must have finished your exams.Ex. You must clean the house.I personally think that mustn't you should be used for both examples. But I heard someone used haven't you for the first one.I would be grateful if you could state your opinion about this.Thank you for your time and help

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

hrsaneiI would be grateful if you could state your opinion about this.

I don't use tag questions that are so difficult to decide!

These seem correct to my ear, but I would never say them.

You must have finished your exams, mustn't you have?

You must clean the house, mustn't you?

When I'm stuck for a tag, I just say "right?" at the end.

For that second one, I'd probably say

You have to clean the house, don't you?

CJ

Hrsanei · Answer

Thanks Jim.

Right is a lifesaver in these context. Thanks for the suggestion and explanation.

CalifJim · Answer

hrsaneiRight is a lifesaver in these context.

As an aside, there are some old-timers in the Midwest who use 'innit?' as the universal tag. (It's a variant of 'isn't it', and this practice is completely non-standard English.)

Those people must be rich, innit?

We have to turn right here, innit?

I have to wait here until they're ready, innit?

CJ

TheSiavash · Answer

I personally use DON'T YOU!?:D

Hrsanei · Answer

Thanks Siavash for your response.

If you use don't you for must, you are absolutely wrong, and if you are using don't you for have to, that is the only alternative. Everyone use that, what else can we use?

We are here talking about the tag question for must or must have.

Thanks anyway

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you very much Jim for your help.

Is innit understood if it is used in everyday English? Does it sound strange to the ear of native people because it is out dated or it sounds fine?

I would be thankful if you could tell me the pronounciation and stress patern of this word.

Thank you very much

Mister Micawber · Answer

Is 'innit' understood if it is used in everyday English?-- I recognize it as a reduced form of 'isn't it?', but in those 'must' and 'have to' sentences (or any others that did not begin with ' is..') I would think the speaker a real cracker, I'm afeared, and it would take me a minute to realize what was meant.

Does it sound strange to the ear of native people because it is out dated or it sounds fine?-- It sounds very regional and substandard to me.

I would be thankful if you could tell me the pronounciation and stress patern of this word.-- ['in it] or ['in ?t]

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you very much Mister Micawber.

That was really helpful.

So for isn't we can use either aint or innit.

Thanks

Mister Micawber · Answer

No, you cannot use either, and neither can I.  We would both look very silly doing so.  Those words belong to basilects of which we are not members.

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you Mister Micawber.

I would like to return to the original question again, as for the tag question of must.

Ex. I must clean the room. Mustn't I?

According to grammatical rules, Must I? should be the tag question. But I think it is not correct due to the fact that the negative meaning of I must is I don't have to.

Must not is negative obligation, and don't have to is lack of obligation. When we are making tag questions, we are asking for the listener confirmation to see if the obligation is present or not.

So I personally think that for must we should use don't have to as a tag question to indicate the lack of obligation rather than must not which shows the negative obligation.

I hope I was able to make myself clear on this issue.

I would be thankful if you could comment on my reasoning for use of don't have to as a tag question of must.

Ex. He must do his homework. Doesn't he have to? (Here we are asking to see if the obligation is present or not)

Thank you very much

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