emka
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2011
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- German
- Home Country
- Germany
- Current Location
- Germany
I have a question about a rather rarely used (it seems) variant of tag questions:
Breast is best. Or is it?
First, I was confused when I encountered such double-positive tags and didn’t understand them because this construction had never been covered in my school English lessons. At some point I figured out that it must be a rhetorical question to express doubt about the preceding statement.
Is it only used with the verb to be? Or can it also be used with other auxiliaries, as per the following sentences I have made up?
She has reached the zenith of her career. Or has she?
He went to collect his bags at the reception desk. Or did he?
He felt he should apologise. Or should he?
Breast is best. Or is it?
First, I was confused when I encountered such double-positive tags and didn’t understand them because this construction had never been covered in my school English lessons. At some point I figured out that it must be a rhetorical question to express doubt about the preceding statement.
Is it only used with the verb to be? Or can it also be used with other auxiliaries, as per the following sentences I have made up?
She has reached the zenith of her career. Or has she?
He went to collect his bags at the reception desk. Or did he?
He felt he should apologise. Or should he?