Question tags

[Iyer]

What is the correct question tag for the sentence

People say he is a liar.

Thanks and regards. I wud appreciate an early reply


iyer

[ICAL_Pete]

question tag:

Don't they?

[thlawrence]

[quote="Iyer"]What is the correct question tag for the sentence

People say he is a liar.

Thanks and regards. I wud appreciate an early reply


iyer[/quote]

It perhaps depends on the stress meant by the writer or the speaker. If he wants to confirm the main clause, the tag is 'don't they?' For the subordinate clause the tag is 'isn't he?'

T H Lawrence

[Iyer]

Could you kindly tell me the correct question tag for the following sentence.

People say he is dead.

Thanks

[Iyer]

Granting that the tag depends on the "stress meant" by the speaker in the sentence, which wud be the more appropriate question tag here?

People say he is a liar, isn't he?
or
people say he is a liar , is he?
------------------------------------

People say he is dead, isn't he?
or
People say he is dead, is he?


Thanks

Iyer

[thlawrence]

The Rule of the Opposite envisages that the first choice, i.e. a negative tag, should be more appropriate and acceptable.

[emine tozan]

people say he is a liar , ' don't they? ' is the right option. because as you know people word refers to 'they' (plural), you cannot say is he? or does he?