英語講義【1】疑問附加語 isnt 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，錯在哪裡？

　　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 ?」錯在哪裡。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?