Example 1: The weather is hot, isn’t it? vs.: The weather is hot, is it not? Example 2: Aren’t you going to study tonight? vs.: Are you not going to study tonight? Apart from convenience in pronuncation, how do the above versions differ (contraction vs. full form)? Answer It’s just extremely common to see tag … Read more
I would like to know whether there is a question tag for compound sentences. There are question tags for complex sentences.For example: I said that you were lazy.Didn’t I? What is the question tag for the sentences given below. 1.I am your learner and you are my mentor 2.English is difficult and I know It. … Read more
The following example is from an Italian quiz book whose aim is to help candidates prepare for English multiple choice tests. In many government-run “concorsi” (competitive exams) you might have to answer up to 100 questions in an hour or less. The fact is, you can’t afford to spend time figuring out the answer, it’s–as … Read more
what is the meaning of this—His success was down to being in the right place at the right time Answer to really simplify it, in this case “down to.” replaces the word because. it is because he was in the right place at the right time that he was successfull. it’s just another way of … Read more
I think it’ll be “hasn’t we?”. But I feel that it’ll be “don’t we?”. Also what is the question tag of, “Man is mortal _____?” Will it be “isn’t he?” or “aren’t they?” Answer The contraction is messing you up. Everyone of us has to cooperate, have we not? Man is mortal, is he not? … Read more
First question. Which of these “tag question” variations is most correct? You’re going, right John? You’re going, right, John? You’re going. Right, John? (1) looks best, imo. (2) seems more proper, though. (3) seems way too emphatic. Second question. What is the technical/grammatical name for the person being addressed in these sentences? “John” is a … Read more
Only an auxiliary verb is repeated in tag questions. My question is which auxiliary verb should be used in the tag when the main verb of the sentence is a linking verb other than ‘be’? You look a bit sacred, don’t you? Or, You look a bit scared, aren’t you? She seems happy, doesn’t she? … Read more
Which of the two is correct: “Every cell phone does that, doesn’t it?” or “Every cell phone does that, don’t they?” Answer Every cell phone does that, doesn’t it? or Every cell phone does that, don’t they? “Every” is a distributive determiner as reflected in the fact that it selects a singular ‘head’, hence “Every … Read more
Consider these two sentences: But aren’t you a superhero? But aren’t you a superhero. One of them ends in a question mark while the other ends in a full-stop. My grammar checker doesn’t respond to either of them. So, which one is correct? Answer Your grammar checker is confused by But. Use a question mark … Read more
Shut the door, will you? Shut the door, won’t you? I can’t tell which way is the correct way. Both of these sound correct to me. Answer Both #1 and #2 are okay and mean approximately the same. “Shut the door, won’t you?” is slightly more polite, because the tag at the end suggests that … Read more
