positive question tag with negative verb

[Tan Elaine]

1. He seldom studies for his exams, does/doesn't he?

2. He never studies for his exams, does/doesn't he?

3. He hardly studies for his exams, does/doesn't he?

I believe in each of the above sentences, I should use 'does' because the adverb in each sentence is negative.

Please correct ms if I am wrong.

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

You are correct.

 

[Tan Elaine]

What about: He has no close friends, does/doesn't he?

For the above sentence, I would use 'does' because it sounds right to use 'does he'. I believe 'no' is the adverb in this case.

Am I correct again?

Thanks.

 

[Tan Elaine]

Could somebody please help? Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

He has no close friends, does/doesn't he?

It doesn't sound natural either way.

"He doesn't have any close friends, does he?" is how I would say it.

 

[konungursvia]

It sounds natural to me, as quoted by Dave.

 

[Tan Elaine]

Could somebody please help? Thanks.

I would like to know whether the comma in the above sentence is optional.

Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

There is no comma in what you quoted.

 

[konungursvia]

I would like to know whether the comma in the above sentence is optional.

Thanks.

It's optional, but stylistically inferior not to use it, in my view.

 

[Tan Elaine]

There is no comma in what you quoted.

Sorry, it should be a question mark.

 

[Tan Elaine]

It's optional, but stylistically inferior not to use it, in my view.

Many thanks, Konungursvia.

 

[5jj]

What about: He has no close friends, does/doesn't he?

For the above sentence, I would use 'does' because it sounds right to use 'does he'. I believe 'no' is the adverb in this case.

I'd class 'no' as a determiner here. Whatever it is, you are right - the tag is 'does he?' (or, for me: 'has he?').

 

[Tan Elaine]

I'd class 'no' as a determiner here. Whatever it is, you are right - the tag is 'does he?' (or, for me: 'has he?').

Many thanks, Fivejedjon.

He has no class friends... With the 'has' within the sentence, the question tag should be 'has', as you said, and I agree with you. It didn't cross my mind.

 

[konungursvia]

In AmE, we more frequently switch to "doesn't" from the more British "hasn't". So that's okay too.

 

[Tan Elaine]

In AmE, we more frequently switch to "doesn't" from the more British "hasn't". So that's okay too.

Many thanks, Konungursvia, for telling me about the difference in the use of the question tag between BrE and AmE.

 

[5jj]

In BrE, most people would probably use 'have got'; for this, the tag must be 'has'.

He's got no close friends, has he?
He hasn't got any close friends, has he?

 

[Tan Elaine]

Hi Fivejedjon.

I appreciate very much your example sentences.