疑問附加語 isn’t it

"John is smart, isn’t it?"

這個疑問句里的附加語(question tag)對嗎?如果是不對的話，錯在哪里?

在公共場所或辦公室里，只要稍為留心，不難聽到“ isn’t it ? ”這個附加語。這種疑問句是英文幾種疑問句中的一種，主要的用途在強制答話人提供問話人心目中的答案。

這個疑問句有一定的格式，即：

肯定敘述句(affirmative statement)+否定附加語(見例 ①及②)

否定敘述句(negative statement)+肯定附加語(見例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，附加語中的代名詞(pronoun)和助動詞(auxiliary verb)必須和敘述句中的相符。

這類疑問句看似簡單，其實容易出差錯。其中一個錯誤便是附加語的時態(tense)不對，如：

⑤You could hardly expect him to help you, can you?

⑥The minister will talk about regional cooperation, wouldn’t he ?

另外一種錯誤是助動詞的錯用，如：

⑦The clerks are working hard, don’t they?

⑧Betty won’t be a sportswoman, can she?

“isn’t it”的濫用

最常見的錯誤來自“isn’t it”的濫用，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?

這6個錯誤的附加語改正如下：

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個句子中才是正確的用法：

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?

現在再看看“John is smart , isn’t it ?”錯在哪里。很明顯的，錯在附加語里的代名詞：應該是“he ”，不是“it”，全句如下：

John is smart, isn’t he?