Would

Question

They would say that, wouldn't they? What does this sentence mean? And why is it derogatory?

Everlastinghope · Accepted Answer

Hi,
This is a tag question,isn't it ?
This questions isn't derogatory,but it's a way of confirming.It means like "am I right "?
This question can be a part of a dialogue or conversation.Could you write the whole of it or the part missing which comes before "They would say that, wouldn't they? "?.

Contraposition · Answer

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/would?region=us&q=would

Could you please paraphrase that sentence?

Everlastinghope · Answer

You mean the 6th sentence,don't you ?.
Well,it seems that they would say that, wouldn’t they? doesn't have a previous sentence or clause.Let's take this example:
Two neighbours arguing or complaining: every night we would hear the boy crying.
Another neighbour talking to mom of the boy wo's crying : they would say that, wouldn’t they?
It means ,is that right ? or as if you say " hmm,so they said that !!!
Did you get the meaning ?It's just used to show that you have a bad opinion about these two neighbours.

Anonymous · Answer

Hello, Contraposition:

I agree with you that in some circumstances that tag could, indeed, be derogatory.

Furthermore, IMHO only, it might not need a question mark. I think an exclamation mark might be more appropriate because it seems to me to be an angry or least sarcastic statement.

I have made up this very bad example to try to explain my reasoning:

Let's say that Mr. and Mrs. X , your neighbors, are very envious of you because you are very intelligent and work very

hard. They, on the other hand, are lazy -- and stupid. One day you buy an expensive car.

Your friend: I really like your new car.

You: Thanks. Everyone is congratulating me.

Your friend: Well, not everyone!

You: What do you mean?

Your friend: Mr, and Mrs. X are telling people that you did not really buy it. They are saying that you only leased it and

that you want people to think that you have enough money to buy it.

You: They would say that, wouldn't they! = I am not surprised by anything derogatory that they say about me. I know that

they have long been envious of me. Of course, they would say something stupid like that. That kind of talk from those

people is expected.

NOTE: I did not use a question mark because when you say "They would say that, wouldn't they!" your voice does NOT

rise as it does in asking a real question, such as "Where do you live?"

***** Here's another bad example of mine:

Your friend: X told me that she loved me, so I gave her all my money. Now she has just left me for another guy!

You're an idiot, aren't you! (Your voice does not rise.)
Your friend: Yes, your're right. I am an idiot!

Everlastinghope · Answer

Very well explained,by giving those bad examples

,I got the meaning that it's not necessary to have a question tag,but rather exclamation mark.However,in the example mentioned in http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/would?region=us&q=would, only question mark is used,could you please explain the difference ?

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your kind note. That link has been "disabled." When it is "abled," hopefully someone who is smarter than I (am) will explain it to us.  Have a nice day!

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