Tag questions
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As a result of this, this forum is now closed.
The English dictionary community team would like the opportunity to say a huge thanks to all of you who participated by posting questions and helping other community members.
We hope this forum was useful, and that you enjoyed being a part of it.
If you would like to get in touch with any OED-related queries, please write to
[email protected]
And if you would like to contribute suggestions to the OED, please do so by visiting: https://public.oed.com/contribute-to-the-oed/
Thank you very much indeed, and good bye!
The community team
Tag questions
Hi,
Could you please tell me what is the correct tag question for the following sentence?
He knows that Tom is younger than Mary , ......... ?
Comments
@MohammadReza, tag question have meanings, so more than one question tag is possible.
He knows that Tom is younger than Mary, doesn't he?
The speaker
He knows that Tom is younger than Mary, does he?
The hearer
The speaker is challenging
possibly the validity of the report
— The speaker doubts that the report was made. Quite probably nobody said that 'he' knows.
possibly the substance of the report
— The speaker doubts that the report is true. Quite probably 'he' doesn't know.
possibly the both the validity and the substance of the report
He knows that Tom is younger than Mary, isn't he?
The speaker
He knows that Tom is younger than Mary, is he?
The hearer
The speaker
is challenging specifically the substance of the report — The speaker does not believe that Tom is younger than Mary