[Grammar] 'Exotic' Question Tags

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echelon

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Sep 27, 2009
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Hello,

I've read many grammar textbooks and all of them are curiously silent on Questions Tags for the below sentences.

Can any kind native speaker of English fill in the correct Questions Tags? Thank you very much.


They must get up at 5 am every day, _______ they? (The opposite should be needn't they but is it the correct question tag here?)

It must have been terrible, ___________ it?

He may like it, ___________ he?

He may speak with the Queen (he's allowed to), ___________ he?

He ought to tell them the truth, ______________ he?

Thanks again.
 

Raymott

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Jun 29, 2008
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Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Hello,

I've read many grammar textbooks and all of them are curiously silent on Questions Tags for the below sentences.

Can any kind native speaker of English fill in the correct Questions Tags? Thank you very much.


They must get up at 5 am every day, mustn't they? (The opposite should be needn't they but is it the correct question tag here?)
Better: They have to get up at 5 am every day, don't they?

It must have been terrible, mustn't it? This use is OK.

He may like it, ___________ he?
He might like it, mightn't he?
It's possible that he'll like it, isn't it?

He may speak with the Queen (he's allowed to), ___________ he?
He's allowed to speak to the Queen, isn't he?
He can speak to the Queen, can't he?

He ought to tell them the truth, oughtn't he?
Better: He should tell them the truth, shouldn't he.
Thanks again.
Some verbs like this aren't often used with question tags. If you really want to use a tag, you can express it in alternative ways, as I've shown.
 

echelon

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Thanks a lot for the answer! I know the sentences aren't particularly common. I was asking purely academically (to complete my knowledge of the Question Tag "theory").

I noticed you completely avoided may.

Is there not a sentence where may might appear with a question tag? And would it be mayn't?

For example: "He may be our enemy now, mayn't he?"

I know it sounds strange, but is it grammatically correct?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Thanks a lot for the answer! I know the sentences aren't particularly common. I was asking purely academically (to complete my knowledge of the Question Tag "theory").

I noticed you completely avoided may.

Is there not a sentence where may might appear with a question tag? And would it be mayn't?

For example: "He may be our enemy now, mayn't he?"

I know it sounds strange, but is it grammatically correct?
"Mayn't" is the grammatically correct form. I wouldn't advise you to use it though, since it's rarely used.
 
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