tag ending

[curious]

It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed, ----?

a) is it b) does it c) doesn't it d) isn't it e) didn't it

Which is correct?

[rhapsomatrics]

Originally Posted by curious

It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed, ----?
a) is it b) does it c) doesn't it d) isn't it e) didn't it
Which is correct?

I think,here,that the "problem" is with "the likelihood of the run of the engine on solar energy when needed"...the phrase "hardly likely" shows a very negative aspect of likelihood which almost translates as "not" or "never"..."It is NOT/NEVER likely...therefore,the negative form of "not likely" would be "likely"...the negative of "...IS NOT likely" would be "IS IT?

[nyggus]

Well, I would choose 'isn't it'... So, what is the correct answer?

[rhapsomatrics]

Well,I think every person is entitled to his/her own opinion,however,I'd like to say,here,that I find myself in a respectful disagreement to your stance on this issue.You seem to be neglecting the purport of the word "hardly"..."Hardly likely" means "not likely" therefore,you form the question tag by a reversal of position with an obvious polarity change..."she is"../".isn't she?"..."she isn't".../" is she?"..."it is not likely"or "it isn't likely"..."is it?"

[Tdol]

I agree with Rhapsomatrics on this- 'hardly' is so close to negative that we treat it as one, so the tag would be positive IMO.

[nyggus]

Hardly is very close to negative, I agree, but do we treat them as one? In such case those two phrases would mean the same:
1st 'It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'
2nd 'It is unlikely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'

Do they really mean the same?

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by nyggus

1st 'It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'
2nd 'It is unlikely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'

Do they really mean the same?

They don't mean exactly the same. The first sounds more critical- the speakers is expressing disbelief or rejection of the likelihood, rather than a low possibility. I said that it behaved like a negative for the purposes of choosing the question tag, and your two examples would, IMO, have different tags- the first positive and the second negative.

[rhapsomatrics]

Originally Posted by nyggus

Hardly is very close to negative, I agree, but do we treat them as one? In such case those two phrases would mean the same:
1st 'It is hardly likely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'
2nd 'It is unlikely that the engine runs on solar energy when it is needed.'
Do they really mean the same?

In my opinion,the two sentences differ...a fact which suggests that they'd have to take different question tags."HARDLY" in the first sentence is an andverb which shows negativity(not) but "unlikely" in the second is an adjective which qualifies the noun phrase"that the..needed"...It is the same as,for example"It is sad that the engine runs on solar...."Is is not sad?...isn't it?...maybe I should say this..."Hardly likely" and "unlikely" are not the same(In My Opinion)..."the word "hardly" in the first sentence negates the "is" thereby forcing the tag to be positive but "unlikely" is the second does not negate the verb,therefore a negative tag may be permitted.