We have partnered with TradePub to bring you free industry magazines and resources - no coupons or credit cards required!
Visit: englishforums.tradepub.com
This question is Not Answered
|
|
|
|
|
|
yogi2005
+
109760
Fri, 17 Jun 05 12:03 AM
hi,
could you tell me if I used the right question tag in the sentence below?
They might have played chess, didn't they?
thank you
Joined on
Thu, Mar 31 2005
Full Member
197
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ranchhand
+
109775
Fri, 17 Jun 05 12:39 AM
Since a tag is simply asking for an affirmation of what one already believes, either positively or negatively, tags with such a low degree of certainty are uncommon. If your feeling is marked by such unsureness, then the tendency wouldn't be to use a tag, though it's not impossible.
They might have played chess, don't you think?
Do you think they might have played chess?
They might have played chess, mightn't they? {I'd suggest this one is quite uncommon}
They might have played chess, might they not have? {even more so}
Joined on
Sun, May 15 2005
Junior Member
81
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MrPedantic
+
109778
Fri, 17 Jun 05 12:45 AM
Perhaps the 'mightn't' tag is more common in BrE. It doesn't seem unusual to me.
MrP
Joined on
Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member
12,592
...opella forensis / adducit febris...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CalifJim
+
109838
Fri, 17 Jun 05 07:12 AM
In any case, yogi, "didn't they" just won't do.
Joined on
Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member
22,399
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
|
|
|
|
|
|