Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Question tags are short questions at the end of statements, used to confirm information or invite agreement. They are a common feature of spoken English and are increasingly tested in competitive exams to assess a candidate’s grasp of fundamental grammatical principles. Correctly forming question tags requires understanding the tense, polarity (positive or negative), and the auxiliary verb used in the main clause. This question specifically assesses the ability to apply these rules to a sentence expressing a past event with a negative connotation.
The given sentence is: "Both his parents died in a train accident, ?"
Rewriting with a Question Tag
To add a correct question tag, we need to consider the following:
- Tense: The sentence is in the simple past tense ("died").
- Polarity: The sentence contains the verb "died," which implies a negative event.
- Auxiliary Verb: The auxiliary verb used (or implied) with "died" is "did."
Therefore, the correct question tag is formed using "did." Since the statement is negative in implication, the question tag must be positive.
The rewritten sentence with the correct question tag is:
"Both his parents died in a train accident, didn't they?"
Explanation of the Tag Formation
The auxiliary verb "did" is used to form the question tag because the main verb is in the past simple tense. The pronoun "they" is used to refer to "his parents." The positive form "didn't they?" is used to match the negative implication of the main clause. Using "didn't they?" creates a grammatically correct and meaningful question tag.
Common Errors to Avoid
- Using "aren't they?" – This is incorrect as it applies to the verb "to be," not "to die."
- Using "didn't he?" – This is incorrect as it refers to a single person, while the subject is "his parents" (plural).
- Omitting the auxiliary verb – A question tag always requires an auxiliary verb.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct way to rewrite the sentence with a question tag is "Both his parents died in a train accident, didn't they?". This demonstrates a clear understanding of past tense formation, auxiliary verb usage, and pronoun agreement in English grammar. Mastering such fundamental grammatical concepts is crucial for effective communication and performing well in competitive examinations.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.