0
Musicgold Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Tag question - a different structure

Hi,

I heard the following line in a movie. It seems like a tag question, but isn’t a typical tag question, in that the tag part is not the negative of the orignal verb. How does one use such a structure?

They have a pretty good one here, do they? ( the characters were talking about the zoo in the city)

Thanks.
  

Top answer

There are all kinds of tag questions. The ones with the same polarity ask for confirmation: You're hungry, are you? It's raining in India, is it?

— Mister Micawber

  • There are all kinds of tag questions.
  • The ones with the same polarity ask for confirmation: You're hungry, are you?
  • It's raining in India, is it?
  • I don't believe they ever work in negative: (X) You won't work Tuesday, won't you?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
There are all kinds of tag questions. The ones with the same polarity ask for confirmation:

You're hungry, are you?

It's raining in India, is it?

I don't believe they ever work in negative:

(X) You won't work Tuesday, won't you?
0

Related Questions