疑问附加语 isn t it
"John is smart, isn t it?"
这个疑问句里的附加语(question tag)对吗?如果是不对的话,错在哪里?
在公共场所或办公室里,只要稍为留心,不难听到“ isn t it ? ”这个附加语。这种疑问句是英文几种疑问句中的一种,主要的用途在强制答话人提供问话人心目中的答案。
这个疑问句有一定的格式,即:
肯定叙述句(affirmative statement)+否定附加语(见例 ①及②)
否定叙述句(negative statement)+肯定附加语(见例③及 ④)
①Mary is happy, isn t she?
②They will come, won t they?
③Mary isn t sad, is she?
④They won t come, will they?
此外,附加语中的代名词(pronoun)和助动词(auxiliary verb)必须和叙述句中的相符。
这类疑问句看似简单,其实容易出差错。其中一个错误便是附加语的时态(tense)不对,如:
⑤You could hardly expect him to help you, can you?
⑥The minister will talk about regional cooperation, wouldn t he ?
另外一种错误是助动词的错用,如:
⑦The clerks are working hard, don t they?
⑧Betty won t be a sportswoman, can she?
“isn t it”的滥用
最常见的错误来自“isn t it”的滥用,如:
⑨Jason likes this book very much , isn t it?
⑩She can sing well, isn t it?
11.Our team won, isn t it?
12.Young Singaporeans have become achievement - oriented , isn t it?
13.All our teachers are dedicated, isn t it?
14.They will go shopping on Sunday, isn t it?
这6个错误的附加语改正如下:
⑨Jason likes this book very much, doesn t he?
⑩She can sing well, can t she?
11.Our team won, didn t it?
12.Young Singaporeans have become achievement - oriented, haven t they?
13.All our teachers are dedicated, aren t they?
14.They will go shopping on Sunday, won t they?
" lsn t it ? "在下列3个句子中才是正确的用法:
15.It is fine today, isn t it?
16.That story book is interesting, isn t it?
17.It is worthwhile learning a second language well, isn t it?
现在再看看“John is smart , isn t it ?”错在哪里。很明显的,错在附加语里的代名词:应该是“he ”,不是“it”,全句如下:
John is smart, isn t he?