question tags - rarely, seldom

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Lenka

I don't know what you're talking about at all!
I haven't noticed you making a mistake. (I hope the sentence is correct, although I am not too sure about it. )


Do you mean the following sentence?


You said "I don't... natural" which means "I do think... unnatural...", doesn't it?
Or... which sentence did you mean? I can't really find any mistakes in any of your posts!



By the way, when the subject of the main sentence is the word "one", what is the subject of the question tag? Should I say "He or she"? Did I write it correctly? Or should I use the "one" also in the question tag?

Actually, my mistake was in thinking I had made a mistake.

We sometime use the word one to mean people in general. (The word you is used that way also.) The words he or she would mean something else. Yes, you wrote it correctly, and yes, you should use one in the question tag.

~R

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Thank you.

The first example, here below, is meaningful in North American English as well, but the second example is still awkward, at least to me; and even though I know and understand what Englishclub.com calls "Same-way question tags", I can't figure out how it makes [2] meaningful? What does never...don't mean?

[1] You don't like my looks, don't you?
[2] You never help me, don't you?

Would you have examples that show this pattern, never...don't?

While I "get" postive/positve question tags (Example: "So you're having a baby, are you?"), I don't believe I have ever heard in fifty years a negative/negative question tag. For example, I would say (and expect to hear), "You don't like my looks, do you?"

[RonBee]

Normal English (to me) would be:

A: You don't like my looks, do you?
B: No, I don't.

~R

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by RonBee

While I "get" postive/positve question tags (Example: "So you're having a baby, are you?"), I don't believe I have ever heard in fifty years a negative/negative question tag. For example, I would say (and expect to hear), "You don't like my looks, do you?"

I'm with you Yanks on that one. My understanding at this point in time is that never...don't is a form of British English, or at least that's what I've been told so far. I'm still waiting on the examples, though.

_________________
50 years, huh? As of 33 minutes ago, I'm 44.

[Teia]

Hi

I was taught that sentences with negative adverbs such as hardly,never,barely, rarely,scarcely,seldom do not have a negative question tag at the end.
e.g.She seldom goes to a movie, does she?
He is never here when I need him, is he?

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

I'm with you Yanks on that one. My understanding at this point in time is that never...don't is a form of British English, or at least that's what I've been told so far. I'm still waiting on the examples, though.

_________________
50 years, huh? As of 33 minutes ago, I'm 44.

(BTW, when I said fifty years I was "rounding off"(taking seven years off). (I'm getting younger by the minute. ))

[Lenka]

I know I'm a little late... But still, it's never too late to wish somebody happy birthday ;).
So, have a happy birthday, Casiopea ...and thank you very much for your help in the forums!

[Teia]

This greeting card is for Casiopea.

Wishing you all the best things today, tomorrow and always!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU !!

Celebrating You !, Free Happy Birthday Card

[engee30]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Thank you.

The first example, here below, is meaningful in North American English as well, but the second example is still awkward, at least to me; and even though I know and understand what Englishclub.com calls "Same-way question tags", I can't figure out how it makes [2] meaningful? What does never...don't mean?

[1] You don't like my looks, don't you?
[2] You never help me, don't you?

Would you have examples that show this pattern, never...don't?

I couldn't find any examples that would show the pattern never...don't/doesn't. I'm sorry. All I was able to come across is the paper on tag questions and the differences in usage between American and British speakers.
Tag Questions in British and American English -- Tottie and Hoffmann 34 (4): 283 -- Journal of English Linguistics

[Lenka]

Originally Posted by engee30

I couldn't find any examples that would show the pattern never...don't/doesn't. I'm sorry. All I was able to come across is the paper on tag questions and the differences in usage between American and British speakers.
Tag Questions in British and American English -- Tottie and Hoffmann 34 (4): 283 -- Journal of English Linguistics

Thank you, engee; I'll read it as soon as I have some free time.