Question tag: she does, does she?

[harry]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #36 "Question Tags (2)", question 5

Sarah: 'She hates the sight of him.'
Paul: '.........'

(a) She did, did she?
(b) She does, does she?
(c) She hates, does she?
(d) She doesn't hate, does she?

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #36 "Question Tags (2)", answer 5

Sarah: 'She hates the sight of him.'
Paul: 'She does, does she?'

Correct answer: (b) She does, does she?
_________________________

It should be: She does, doesn't she?

harry

[Alan]

Hi,

In this sentence the question tag isn't an agreement with the first speaker's remark but merely an indication of surprise.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Chami]

But it is confusing.

[Sasooo]

hello alan . thanks for your wonderful explanation. I am an english teacher so I teach question tag in class. but its my first time to know that it's possible for the tag q to be possitive as
she does ,does she? or
Iam ,am I?
I KNOW they are
she does , doesnot she?
what do you think? please answer me quickly. I raelly want to understand this grammar
thanks

[Alan]

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Hi Sasooo,

You are right when you say that the usual purpose of the question tag is to ask for affirmation as in: He said that,didn't he? or He didn't say that, did he?.

The use of double positive is a slight refinement because here the speaker wants to show surprise even sarcasm as well as seeking affirmation. Imagine Charlie is known to be very careful with his money and you have just been told that Charlie has paid for the meal both for himself and his friend. You are surprised and you say: Oh, he did, did he? That surprises me a lot.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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[Viator]

Oh, I'm most grateful for that answer professor Allan. I think I understood at last! Oh, I did, did I? Surprise myself ^^.

[Ifra]

Hi, Mr. Alan,

Just like another student, it is new thing for me learning this kind of question tag. But your explanation help us so helpful. Thanks. ;)

Mr. Alan, is it "sight of him" a kind of phrase? what is it mean?

[Alan]

Hi Ifra,

Does your question refer to the expression: I didn't catch sight of him? If it does, then this means: I didn't see him.

Let me know if that is what you wanted.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Ifra]

Thank you so much for your reply, Mr. Alan.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you the complete expression, it is: She hates the sight of him.
Is it the same meaning in your reply?

I'm most grateful for your answer Mr. Alan,

[Alan]

Hi,

This sentence:

[Ifra]

Thank you for your kindness Mr. Alan,

[Mitra584]

Dear Alan,
Would you please explain about intonation of question tags? Which is up or down?
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Peace&Love

[Alan]

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Hi Mitra,

Listen to these:

He understands, doesn't he?

He doesn't understand, does, he?

Oh, you understand, do you?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Make or Do?

[Mitra584]

Dear Alan,
Thanks a lot for your explanation but I studied tag question in 'New Headway’ in there about tag question explained The meaning of a question tag depends on how you say it. If the tag falls, the speaker expects people to agree with him/her and if the tag rises, the speaker is asking for confirmation. The speaker thinks he/she knows the answer, but isn’t absolutely sure. Would you please tell me about that and also in form1that two parts are affirmative?
With regard
Mitra
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Peace&Love

[Alan]

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Hi Mitra,

What you have said about question tags is broadly true but I think you can take the point about intonation too far because any rising tone is regarded as a full question in the sense of : Do you agree with me? The whole point of the conventional tag is to affirm what you have said in the main sentence.

A difference is apparent in the double affirmative. The idea behind this is that the speaker is speaking with a note of sarcasm or irritation as in: He thinks he knows what he's talking about, does he? Well, I think I shall have to tell him that he's talking rubbish because he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about.

I hope that clarifies.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Indirect Speech