语法核心/综合 · 薄冰语法指南

附加疑问句

1 何谓附加疑问句?

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1 何谓附加疑问句?

有一读者问: 什么叫做附加疑问句?

附加疑问句 (tag question), 也就是我们常说的反意疑问句 (disjunctive question), 但前者的含义较后者更为确切。“反意”意味着对陈述句所叙述的事实加以反问,也就是说,如果陈述句是肯定结构,反意疑问句须用否定结构;反之,如果陈述句是肯定结构,反意疑问句须用肯定结构。然而这只是一般情况。事实上,陈述句与后面所附的疑问句有时可以都是肯定结构或都是否定结构(这种情况多带感情色彩),如 :

(1)So he likes his job, does he ?

(2)So he doesn't like his job, doesn't he ?

在这种情况下,将附在陈述句后面的疑问句叫做附加疑问句显然比较准确。

此外,附加疑问句所包括的范围亦较反意疑问句为广。比如祈使句和感叹句之后亦可用附加疑问句。如:

(3)Let's have a chat, shall we ?

(4)How odd, isn't it ?

2 祈使句之后应如何使用附加疑问句?

有一读者问:如何做这一道题:

(1)Be sure to write to us, _____?

A. will you B. aren't you

C. can you D. mustn't you

附加疑问句之前多用一陈述句,但在这里,附加疑问句之前却是一个祈使句。在祈使句之后,否定的附加疑问句常用 won't you,肯定的附加疑问句常用 will you。具体到这一道试题,答案当然只能是 will you,因为选择项目中并没有 won't you。其实,选择项目中即使有 won't you?,我们也不能用。因为这里只需要一个加强语气的附加疑问句,而 will you? 正是常用来加强语气的一种附加疑问句。这种语气强烈而坚决的 will you? 用得很广,再如:

(2)Open the door, will you ?

(3)Be quiet, will you ?

3 关于 Let us...之后的附加疑问句

有一读者问:有人说以 Let us 或 Let's 开头的句子,其后的附加疑问句应用 shall we, 但又有人说以 Let us 开头的句子应后接 will you,请问这是怎么回事?

这两种说法都对,但其中 us 的所指不同。第一种说法中的 Let us 相当于 Let's (后者用于口语), us 包括对方在内,附加疑问句须用 shall we?或 shan't we,如:

(1)Let's (或 Let us)go out to dinner, shall we ? (这里的 Let's 相当于汉语的“咱们”)

第二种说法只可用 Let us , us 不包括对方,附加疑问句自然应用 will you,如:

(2)Let us go, will you ? (这里的 let 有“准许”的含义)

4 这两对例句中的附加疑问句的区别

有一读者问:如何解释下列两对例句中反意疑问句的区别:

(1)So she thinks she's going to become a doctor, does she?

(2)You think you're funny, do you?

(3)I suppose you're not serious, are you?

(4)I don't suppose he's serious, is he?

首先应该指出,上述例(1)、(2)中的 does she? 与 do you? 并不是反意疑问句,而是非反意疑问句。因为它们与陈述句的有关意义并不相反。例(3)、(4)中的 are you? 与 is he? 才是反意疑问句,因为它们与陈述句的有关意义是相反的。反意疑问句与非反意疑问句统称为附加疑问句。

上述两对例句中的附加疑问句所针对的陈述句部分显然不同。第一对例句中的附加疑问句是针对陈述句的主句部分提问的,而第二对例句中的附加疑问句则是针对陈述句的从句部分提问的。

那么如何解释这种不同的针对性呢?这是由于说话人的主观意向所决定的。如果说话人的主观意向在于陈述句的主句部分,其附加疑问句的主语及谓语则应与陈述句主句部分的主、谓语一致,如上述例(1)、(2)。反之,如果说话人的主观意向在于陈述句的从句部分,其附加疑问句的主语及谓语则应与陈述句从句部分的主、谓语一致,如上述例(3)、(4)。但须注意,在主从复合句中,主语是I,其主要动词(即全句的谓语动词)如果是 suppose, think, believe, guess, assume, figure, fancy, expect 等,附加疑问句的主、谓语习惯上常与从句部分的主、谓语一致,尤其在用上述动词的否定式时更是如此。除上述例(4)外,再如:

(5)I don't think it is right, is it? (注意 I don't think it is right=I think it is not right)

(6)I don't believe you two have met before, have you?

(I don't believe you two have met before=I believe you two have not met before)

5 这里能用反意疑问句吗?

有一读者问: 以不定代词,动词不定式、动名词作主语的陈述句,后面如何用反意疑问句?

很难笼统地谈这个问题。比如对下面几个句子中的主语即无法提出反意疑问句:

(1)To eat is to live.

(2)Seeing is believing.

(3)Anybody can do it.

如对全句发问,当然可说 Isn't that right? 或Don't you think so? 但这已不是附在句子后面的反意疑问句,而是独立的否定疑问句了。对下面一些句子中的主语倒是可提反意疑问句的:

(4)It is right to tell the truth, isn't it?(不定式短语在此是真实主语)

(5)Swimming is good exercise, isn't it?

(6)Everybody in that street can contribute some money, can't they?

6 Am I not? Aren't I? Ain't I?

有一读者问: 请问I am a teacher 的反意问句是 am I not? 还是aren't I? 还是 ain't I?

关于这个问题,有一本英国出版的词典《朗文当代英语词典》 (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English )讲得很清楚。 它以 I am your friend 为例分别比较如下:

(1)正式英语是: I am your friend, am I not?

(2)非正式英语是: I'm your friend, aren't I?

(3)非标准英语是: I'm your friend, ain't I?

但请注意:

1. 所谓“非标准英语”并不只意味着未受过教育的人所讲的英语。实际上不少受过教育的人在无拘无束的场合中也爱讲这种不太规范的英语。

2. aren't 一般是are not 的缩略式,只是有时相当于am not, 如例(2)。

3. ain't 除相当于am not 外,还可相当于are not, is not, has not和have not。

7 am not本身无缩略式

有一读者问: 有一道题:

I'm late, _____?

答案是aren't I,为什么不用amn't I?

英语中的am not无缩略式,只可用aren't(在疑问句中)或ain't(在俗语中)。

8 这里的附加疑问句亦须用否定式

有一读者问: 有这样一句话:

The stone is too heavy to carry, isn't it?

这句话的附加疑问句是否应改为肯定式 is it?

附加疑问句如表示反意,在此也须用否定式 isn't it。

9 这里的附加疑问句应用doesn't he?

有一读者问:下面一句的附加疑问句可以用hasn't he吗:

My father often has lunch at school, hasn't he?

这里的附加疑问句应用doesn't he?因为此处的has 的意思不是有,而是吃。

10 应选 doesn't he 抑或 don't they?

有一读者问:请解答:

Everyone wants to take part in the English party, _____?

A. does he B. doesn't he C. do they D. don't they

一般说来,应选择 don't they, 如在很正式的文体中,则应选择 doesn't he。 但在当今英语中,即使在书面语中,也有很多用 they 代表 everyone 以及 everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, none 等的情况。

11 应用 hadn't you抑或 didn't you?

有一读者问:You had better go home now 的反意疑问句是什么?是 hadn't you? 还是 didn't you?

应用 hadn't you, 但实际上常用 shouldn't you。 didn't you 系指过去,故不可用。

12 如何解释这两个反意疑问句?

有一读者问:对下面两个句子中的反意疑问句,我们的理解是:

(1)I think you'll come to our help, won't you?

(2)I don't suppose he cares, does he?

以上两句中的反意疑问句的主语皆与宾语从句的主语一致。但请看下面两个句子:

(3)We don't believe that he can do the work by himself, do we?

(4)Carl thinks you had better clear the ashes away first, doesn't he?

请问如何解释这两个句子中的反意疑问句呢?

第一对句子(即句[1]与句[2])中的反意疑问句不是对主句提出疑问,而是对宾语从句(即省去 that 的从句)提出疑问。所以反意疑问句的主语和谓语必须与从句的主语和谓语一致,但这种句子必须由“单数第一人称代词(即I)+think, suppose, guess, assume, believe, expect, imagine 等动词”所引导。第二对句子(即句[3] 和句[4])的开头虽有动词 believe 和 thinks, 但其主语不是I,故其反意疑问句只可对主句提出疑问,不可对从句提出疑问。

13 这里的反意疑问句应用肯定结构

有一读者问:有这样一道填空题:

(1)He has few friends, _____?

如何填空?

应填has he, 因为few表否定。当陈述部分含有no, little, few, none, nobody, nothing, never, seldom, hardly, scarcely等否定词时,附加疑问句应用肯定结构,再如:

(2)He has no friends here, has he ?

(3)You know nothing about it, do you ?

(4)They have little money, have they ?

(5)I seldom get a letter from you,do I ?

但请注意,当陈述部分含有由表否定的前缀如un-, dis-, im-, in- 等构成的词,则不可将之作否定词对待,换言之,反意疑问句仍须用否定结构,如:

(6)It's unfair, isn't it ?

14 附加疑问句did he?是否应改作used he?

有一读者问:我在《科技英语学习》上看到这样一个句子:

(1)He usedn't /used not/didn't use to smoke fifty cigarettes a day, did he?

这里是否应将did he改作used he?

这里的附加疑问句既可用did he,亦可用used he。但据权威语法著作《英语语法大全》 (A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language )说,在附加疑问句中通常皆用助动词do,换言之,这里通常皆用did he。再如:

(2)He used to smoke, didn't he ?

(3)He usedn't to smoke, did he ?

顺便提一下,情态动词used to(也有人认为它更像是一个助动词)的否定式除上述句(1)所给的usedn't, used not和didn't use to之外,还有didn't used to,虽然有人认为它有点不够规范,实例如:

(4)— I hope he used to make more sense.

— He did. He didn't used to be at all like the way he is now.

(5)— You didn't used to feel like this.

— Oh, Dad, what's the use of talking like that?

15 这种否定陈述句之后的反意疑问句应用肯定结构

有一读者问:有这样一道题:

(1)She can speak neither English nor French, _____she?

A. can B. can't C. doesn't D. does

答案为B,但我认为应是A,因为neither...nor否定了两个宾语,该句可转化为:

(2)She can't speak English or French. 同理,

(3)He made no answer, _____he?

应填did,不应填didn't。当否?

我们同意你的看法。

16 应用 did 抑或 had?

有一读者问:如何做这道选择题:

They had no classes on Friday,_________they?

A. did B. had

最好选A,但在英国也可用B。

17 She doesn't think it will be very cold 的反意疑问句

有一读者问:我知道 I don't think it will be very cold, will it? 中的反意疑问句应用 will it, 但 She doesn't think it will be very cold 之后的反意疑问句应是什么呢?

应是 does she ? 一般只有由单数第一人称代词 (即I)+ think, believe, suppose 等动词引导宾语从句时,其后的反意疑问句才应与从句一致。

18 He is unfit for the job 的反意疑问句

有一读者问:有这样一道选择题:

(1)He is unfit for the job, _________he?

A. isn't B. is

C. can D. mustn't

我们这里许多人都认为应选A,但可否选B?下面一句中的 is it? 又作何解释?

(2)It's unfair, is it?

首先必须指出,例(1)中的陈述句的否定词 unfit 是由前缀 un-和 fit 构成的。含有这种否定词的陈述句仍应作为肯定结构处理。

其次,上述表示肯定的陈述句,和一切肯定的陈述句一样,其后的附加疑问句一般应用否定结构。据此,例(1)应选择A。同样,例(2)的附加疑问句一般也应用 isn't it, 这里用 is it 则具有感情色彩。

19 这种附加疑问句不用 mustn't 为好

有一读者问:有一道选择题:

(1)The ground is wet. It must have rained yesterday, _________it?

A. mustn't B. haven't

C. must D. it

答案是A。而另一本教学参考书上则有一个例句是:

(2)They must have seen the film yesterday, didn't they?

哪一个对?

有的语法书上是这样说的:当 must 意指“必须”时,反意疑问句仍应用 must 或 mustn't,如:

(3)We must study hard, mustn't we ?

(4)We must obey orders, mustn't we ?

但当 must 表推测时,反意疑问句则不应用 must,而应用动词或助动词,如:

(5)You must be a writer, aren't you ?

(6)You must have lived here for a long time, haven't you ?

(7)You must have seen him yesterday, didn't you ?

按照这条规则,上述句(2)是对的,句(1)就错了。然而,这条语法规则并不为人人所遵守,must 表推测时其反意疑问句用 must 的情况也不罕见,如:

(8)He must have left, mustn't he ?

(9)Some of them must have got out, mustn't they ?

这样说来,上述句(1)就不能算错了。

20 一般应用need I?

有一读者问:我曾遇到这样一个句子:

I need hardly remind you of the facts, do I?

但我发现有的语法书上说这种句子末尾的附加疑问句应用need I,不知孰是孰非,请赐教。

一般说来,need如是实义动词,其后的附加疑问句用need或do皆可;但need如是情态动词,其后的附加疑问句则应用need。 据此,上述句中的do应改作need 较好。但用do似乎也不为错,只是不够严谨而已。

21 这里为什么不用 needn't?

有一读者问: 书上讲对 must 的否定应该用 needn't,但为什么下一句中用 mustn't:

(1)I must return it this week, mustn't I?

这是两个不同的问题,应分开来谈。当 must表“有必要”时,其否定结构应用 needn't,如:

(2)—Must I go?

—No, you needn't .

(3)The teacher must show concern for the pupils, needn't he?

但如 must 表“必须”时,其否定结构则须用 mustn't,如上述例(1),再如:

(4)We must go now, mustn't we?

(5)The children must wait outside, mustn't they?

又,must表推测意谓“一定”时,其否定结构一般也不用 mustn't,而须用助动词(即通常用的 do, be 或 have)的否定式,如:

(6)You must have seen him yesterday, didn't you?

(7)You must be a writer, aren't you?

(8)You must have lived here a long time, haven't you?

22 oughtn't he 与 shouldn't he 哪个正确?

有一读者问:下面两个句子中的反意疑问句究竟哪个正确:

(1)He ought to be punished, oughtn't he?

(2)I ought to complain, shouldn't I?

陈述句部分如用肯定形式 ought to,其后的反意疑问句(或称作附加疑问句)既可以用 oughtn't,也可以用 shouldn't。再如:

(3)We ought to go now, oughtn't we ?

(4)We ought to go now, shouldn't we ?

23 这种附加疑问句与其前的陈述句同是肯定结构

有一读者问:附加疑问句有时所用的句子结构是一样的。如下面一句:

(1)You've got the ticket, have you?

其中附加疑问句和其前的陈述句都是肯定结构,请问这是怎么回事?

附加疑问句常皆附在陈述句之后,二者的句子结构形式往往是相反的:陈述句如是肯定结构,附加疑问句即为否定结构,如:

(2)You've got the ticket, haven't you ?

陈述句如是否定结构,附加疑问句即为肯定结构,如:

(3)You haven't got the ticket, have you ?

这两种情况中的附加疑问句一般都是为了向对方提出疑问而使用的。但还有另外两种情况,即两种句子形式不是相反的,而是相同的。换言之,陈述句如是肯定结构,附加疑问句也是肯定结构,问中所举的句子即是一例。陈述句如是否定结构,附加疑问句也是否定结构,如:

(4)So he won't pay his bills, won't he ? We'll see about that.(won't he 在此表示严厉、威胁)

上述第四种情况(即陈述句与附加疑问句皆为否定结构)是较为少见的。但第三种情况并不罕见。这种情况大致有三种用途:

1. 附加疑问句用升调,目的是想证实陈述句,如上述例(1)。这种附加疑问句还往往有想要对方就此多谈谈的含义,如:

(5)— So she's getting married, is she ?

— Yes, she's got engaged to a doctor. The wedding's in June ...

2. 附加疑问句如用降调,则往往表示难过或遗憾,如:

(6)You sold that lovely bracelet, did you ? (附加疑问句表示遗憾)

(7)He's an invalid, is he ? (附加疑问句表示难过或同情)

3. 陈述句用降调而附加疑问句用升调时,则可表怀疑、反感、讥讽甚至威胁等不甚友好的情绪,如:

(8)I'll get my money back, will I ? (附加疑问句表示怀疑、不相信)

(9)We are mule drivers, are we ? (附加疑问句表示反感、不赞成)

这种句子中的陈述句部分常以 so 和 oh 开头,如:

(10)So you thought you'd fooled me, did you ? (附加疑问句表示严厉、威胁)

(11)So that's your little game, is it ? (附加疑问句表示讥讽)

(12)Oh, you've another accident, have you ? (附加疑问句表示责备)

还有一对话中的附加疑问句部分与陈述句部分二者的形式也可以是相同的,如:

(13)— They're moving to New York.

Are they ? (用升调,表惊讶)

(14)— I've got the sack!

— You have, have you ? (用升调,表愤怒)

24 附加疑问句与其前的陈述句可同是否定结构

有一读者问:有这样一句话:

(1)It's not cheap, isn't it?

按照反意疑问句的规则,这里应用is it, 怎么这里用了isn't it? 了呢?

上述句(1)中的isn't it? 不是反意疑问句,因为它与其前的陈述句同样是否定的。 这种问句应叫做附加疑问句。 附加疑问句的范围较广,它包括反意疑问句与非反意疑问句在内。非反意疑问句常有感情色彩,如惊讶、失望、怀疑、不赞成、讥讽、甚至愤怒等。它往往与其前的陈述句同样是肯定的,如:

(2)You've got the ticket, have you ? (表怀疑)

(3)So that's your little game, is it ?(表讥讽)

它偶尔与其前的陈述句同样是否定的,上述句(3)即是一例(表不满),再如:

(4)So he doesn't like his job,doesn't he ?(表失望)