"Do" replacing main verb
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"Do" replacing main verb |
Most languages have a set phrase for a question tag at the end of a sentence: "n'est-ce pas? or "nicht wahr?". English varies the phrase, using "do" with most verbs but repeating the verb if it is an auxiliary like "will", "shall", "can", "may", "must", "need", "be", "have, or "ought".
Some examples:
"You missed the bus, didn't you?"
"You want some money, don't you?"
"He needs help, doesn't he?"
But:
"You haven't missed the bus, have you?"
"You aren't short of money, are you?"
"You needn't go, need you?"
"We can't go this week, can we?"
"I should have finished that, shouldn't I?"
More of a problem for North Europeans seems to be the verb used in a confirming answer:
"You left me behind" - "No, I didn't"
"The voting went against the Government" - "No, it didn't"
"You owe me a fiver (£5)" - "No, I don't"
"You often eat fish and chips?" -"Yes, I do"
"And you like them?" - "Yes, I do"
[substituting "do" for the main verb]
But:
"Are you going out?" - "Yes, I am"
"Can you lend a hand?" - "Of course I can"
"He's always breaking the rules" - "No, he isn't"
[repeating an auxiliary verb]