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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
two questions on grammar
Hi,
Please check the two sentences.
1. Can I use the tag "isn't it" for the part underlined?
It means "He was going to pay for it," doesn't it?
2. You need wider reference (a wider reference?)?
I got a sentence or two from this forum.
Please check the two sentences.
1. Can I use the tag "isn't it" for the part underlined?
It means "He was going to pay for it," doesn't it?
2. You need wider reference (a wider reference?)?
I got a sentence or two from this forum.
Top answer
1. No, you can't subsitute 'isn't it'. If you want to check these things then try re-arranging the sentence and seeing if it works It does mean that .....
- 1.
- No, you can't subsitute 'isn't it'.
- If you want to check these things then try re-arranging the sentence and seeing if it works It does mean that .....
- - ok.
- It is mean that ....
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4 Answers
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1. No, you can't subsitute 'isn't it'.
If you want to check these things then try re-arranging the sentence and seeing if it works
It does mean that ..... - ok.
It is mean that .... - not ok.
2. Yes, I agree that 'a wider reference' would be better.
If you want to check these things then try re-arranging the sentence and seeing if it works
It does mean that ..... - ok.
It is mean that .... - not ok.
2. Yes, I agree that 'a wider reference' would be better.
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1. what is the auxiliary? it is was. So, it should be was not he (he is the subject)?
2. You need (a) wider reference.
With the determiner, the emphasis is on reference. Without it, wider is more emphatic
2. You need (a) wider reference.
With the determiner, the emphasis is on reference. Without it, wider is more emphatic
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Hi Inch,
Yes, if the sentence had just been 'He was going to pay for it' then certainly the tag would be 'wasn't he'.
However the whole sentence is 'It means "He was going to pay for it," doesn't it?.
The tag has to refer back to the 'It means' part. It means...doesn't it.
This is a tricky example as a lot of learners would be tricked into tagging the '
Yes, if the sentence had just been 'He was going to pay for it' then certainly the tag would be 'wasn't he'.
However the whole sentence is 'It means "He was going to pay for it," doesn't it?.
The tag has to refer back to the 'It means' part. It means...doesn't it.
This is a tricky example as a lot of learners would be tricked into tagging the '
00
Hi Nona,
Definitely. 'It means' has escaped my attention at the beginning of the sentence
Definitely. 'It means' has escaped my attention at the beginning of the sentence
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