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How do you tag a question with subjects like someone, somebody, anybody, nobody?
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Interesting question!
I think that it depends on the context:
A teacher to his/her class: 'Nobody (none of you) knows the answer to this question. Don't you?'
A citizen complaining about the government: 'Nobody (none of them) knows the answer to the problem of poverty. Don't they?'
But I might be wrong, I'd like to know other members' opinions about the tag questions: should they be negative as in the examples? or positive since the meaning of the sentence is negative?
I think that it depends on the context:
A teacher to his/her class: 'Nobody (none of you) knows the answer to this question. Don't you?'
A citizen complaining about the government: 'Nobody (none of them) knows the answer to the problem of poverty. Don't they?'
But I might be wrong, I'd like to know other members' opinions about the tag questions: should they be negative as in the examples? or positive since the meaning of the sentence is negative?
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someone, somebody, anybody, nobody?
A teacher to his/her class: '"Does anyone know the answer to this question?
A citizen complaining about the government: "Does nobody in your government care about the plight of pensioners in this country?"
"Can someone help me here please?"
"Could somebody from the sixth form please take this to the headmaster for me?"
A teacher to his/her class: '"Does anyone know the answer to this question?
A citizen complaining about the government: "Does nobody in your government care about the plight of pensioners in this country?"
"Can someone help me here please?"
"Could somebody from the sixth form please take this to the headmaster for me?"
someone, somebody, anybody, nobody?
A teacher to his/her class: '"Does anyone know the answer to this question?
A citizen complaining about the government: "Does nobody in your government care about the plight of pensioners in this country?"
"Can someone help me here please?"
"Could somebody from the sixth form please take this to the headmaster for me?"
I'm sorry David L., I'm afraid I don't get it :-?. Where's the tag question? Could you explain it in further detail?
Thanks
louhevly
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How do you tag a question with subjects like someone, somebody, anybody, nobody?
I'd use "they":
Someone/Somebody helped you, didn't they?
Here I'd only use "didn't he?" or "didn't she?" if I had someone definite in mind.
Anyone/Anybody can do it, can't they? ("... can't he" is possible, but not so common).
Nobody knows the answer, do they? (For me, "... does he" would be strange.)
There's also "None of you have a car, do you?" and "None of us agree, do we?"
Lou
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I'd use "they":
Someone/Somebody helped you, didn't they?
Here I'd only use "didn't he?" or "didn't she?" if I had someone definite in mind.
Anyone/Anybody can do it, can't they? ("... can't he" is possible, but not so common).
Nobody knows the answer, do they? (For me, "... doesn't he" would be strange.)
There's also "None of you have a car, do you?" and "None of us agree, do we?"
Lou
That makes sense. Thanks Lou! :up:
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