Comments on: Question Tags http://www.english-at-home.com Learn English for free Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:26:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Clare http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/question-tags/#comment-41741 Clare Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:35:35 +0000 http://english-at-home.com/beta-wp/grammar/question-tags/#comment-41741 Yes. Yes.

]]> By: Luboš http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/question-tags/#comment-41730 Luboš Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:16:17 +0000 http://english-at-home.com/beta-wp/grammar/question-tags/#comment-41730 "There is a strong wind today, ISN´T THERE? Is this correct, please? "There is a strong wind today, ISN´T THERE?

Is this correct, please?

]]> By: Clare http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37192 Clare Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:18:36 +0000 http://english-at-home.com/beta-wp/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37192 This is a very good question. The only way I can explain it is that it's more a question of sense, than whether it's a main or subordinate clause. In the first, you're not asking for confirmation whether the rich are happy or not, but whether people think that. You're questioning the assumption (people think) rather than an idea (rich are happy.) But in the second, you're not questioning your own opinion (I don't think) but whether the specific advise you're giving is helpful or not (this idea would help you). We often use question tags not as real questions, but to get the other person to agree or disagree with us. This is a very good question. The only way I can explain it is that it's more a question of sense, than whether it's a main or subordinate clause.
In the first, you're not asking for confirmation whether the rich are happy or not, but whether people think that. You're questioning the assumption (people think) rather than an idea (rich are happy.)

But in the second, you're not questioning your own opinion (I don't think) but whether the specific advise you're giving is helpful or not (this idea would help you).

We often use question tags not as real questions, but to get the other person to agree or disagree with us.

]]> By: Roatana, Cambodia http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37188 Roatana, Cambodia Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:22:29 +0000 http://english-at-home.com/beta-wp/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37188 Thanks Clare Could we have more explanation from you about when do we know the tag is referred to the main sentence and when does it [tag] refer to the subordinate clause as the two sentence above? Many thanks! Have a nice weekend! Cheer! Thanks Clare

Could we have more explanation from you about when do we know the tag is referred to the main sentence and when does it [tag] refer to the subordinate clause as the two sentence above?

Many thanks!
Have a nice weekend!

Cheer!

]]> By: Clare http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37127 Clare Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:19:47 +0000 http://english-at-home.com/beta-wp/grammar/question-tags/#comment-37127 People think that only the rich are happy, don't they. The tag refers to "people think" I don't think this idea would help you, would it. The tag refers to "this idea would help" People think that only the rich are happy, don't they.
The tag refers to "people think"

I don't think this idea would help you, would it.
The tag refers to "this idea would help"

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