tag questions

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Lynn3

#150117 Fri, 21 Oct 05 07:06 AM

What are the different meaning among sentences of tag questions?

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he.

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he?

Tom isn't a really far-out person, is he?

Thanks!

Lynn

Lynn3

Joined on Fri, Aug 19 2005

Taiwan

Full Member (134)

Philip

#150300 Fri, 21 Oct 05 05:16 PM

Lynn3 wrote:

What are the different meaning among sentences of tag questions?

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he.

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he?

Tom isn't a really far-out person, is he?

Thanks!

Lynn

Tag questions are simply a way of asking for affirmation of what was said. Use negative after a positivie sentence and vice versa. Your sentences are all correct. I think the use of '?' is debatable. I would use it, myself.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Negatives

pieanne

#150310 Fri, 21 Oct 05 06:05 PM

I would use it too. Smile [:)]

pieanne

Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005

South of France ...But I'm Belgian!

Veteran Member (7,512)

I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

Lynn3

#150978 Mon, 24 Oct 05 08:36 AM

How about

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he. ((((this is not a questions mark. It is a period.)))

Lynn

Lynn3

Anonymous

#151036 Mon, 24 Oct 05 12:48 PM

Thnaks Lynn3 for an important topic.

I'm student ......

Could you tell me about its tag question?

Anonymous

Waeel

#151037 Mon, 24 Oct 05 12:49 PM

Thnaks Lynn3 for an important topic.

I'm student ......

Could you tell me about its tag question?

Waeel

Joined on Sun, Aug 28 2005

New Member (04)

Clive

#151060 Mon, 24 Oct 05 02:20 PM

Hi guys,

I'd like to add some comments.

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he. It looks very odd to me without a question mark. I'd always put one. After all, it's called a tag question.

Tom is a really far-out person, isn't he? I'm expecting agreement with the main statement, ie that he is far-out.

Tom isn't a really far-out person, is he? I'm expecting agreement with the main statement, ie that he isn't far-out.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,106)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Question marks

Philip

#151128 Mon, 24 Oct 05 04:22 PM

Upon further consideration, I'd like to add the following. It seems to me that inflection (or not) could indicate the use of the question mark rather than the period.

Mark's a slob isn't he! (I'm sure you agree with me....not really asking.)

Mark's coming tomorrow night, isn't he? (I have some doubt, so I'm asking.)

The same with the negative.

Mark isn't a slob, is he! (Someone said he was, and I disagree; I want you to say I'm right.)

Mark isn't coming tomorrow night, is he! (I thought he was going to, but I suspect he isn't, so i want confirmation - might indicate disappointment on my part.) Mark isn't coming tomorrow night, is he? (might also indicate disgust).