questions tags or remarks

I HAVE A PROBLEM IN USING A QUESTION TAG NOT AS I WAS LOOKING FOR A CONFIRMATION BUT TO REMARK SOME PART OF THE CONVERSATION. FOR INSTANCE, YOU CAN COME WITH US, CAN YOU?

IS IT CORRECT?


THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE

LUPITA

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by lupita

I HAVE A PROBLEM IN USING A QUESTION TAG NOT AS I WAS LOOKING FOR A CONFIRMATION BUT TO REMARK SOME PART OF THE CONVERSATION. FOR INSTANCE, YOU CAN COME WITH US, CAN YOU?

IS IT CORRECT?


THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE

LUPITA

Yes, you can use it that way. :wink:

[gabber]

Lupita,
A tag question has "not" or [ n't] in one clause, and ONLY one clause.
"You're coming, aren't you?"
"You're not coming, are you?"
And the first clause can begin with a proper noun, a common noun, or a pronoun; but the second clause subject must always be the pronoun that is the appropriate one to refer to the subject of the first clause:
Anne left, didn't she?
The woman left, didn't she?
She left, didn't she?
The woman didn't leave, did she?


Good luck!

[engee30]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Yes, you can use it that way. :wink:

But there's a slight difference if you wanted to use the negative question tag:

You can come with us, can't you? (you expect the positive answer)
You can come with us, can you? (you actually ask a question)

The intonation of tag questions is another important matter - in the first sentence, the intonation is falling; in the other - rising.