“Those books belong to him, don't they / aren't they?” – tag questions for state verbs
In the question, 'Those books belong to Rohan's brother, (question tag)?'
Can we use 'aren't they' in this instead of 'don't they' as 'belong' here is not an action verb that's why I think that we can't use any form of 'do' here. Am I right?
tag-questions
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
add a comment |
In the question, 'Those books belong to Rohan's brother, (question tag)?'
Can we use 'aren't they' in this instead of 'don't they' as 'belong' here is not an action verb that's why I think that we can't use any form of 'do' here. Am I right?
tag-questions
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
add a comment |
In the question, 'Those books belong to Rohan's brother, (question tag)?'
Can we use 'aren't they' in this instead of 'don't they' as 'belong' here is not an action verb that's why I think that we can't use any form of 'do' here. Am I right?
tag-questions
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
In the question, 'Those books belong to Rohan's brother, (question tag)?'
Can we use 'aren't they' in this instead of 'don't they' as 'belong' here is not an action verb that's why I think that we can't use any form of 'do' here. Am I right?
tag-questions
tag-questions
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
edited Feb 23 at 15:59
userr2684291
2,60631532
2,60631532
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
asked Feb 23 at 9:03
Shashwat ChoudharyShashwat Choudhary
335
335
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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You must use 'don't they?' if the tag relates to the verb 'belong'. The fact that 'belong' is a state verb, not an action verb, does not change this. 'Belong' is neither an auxiliary verb nor a modal verb, and thus the tag requires use of the verb 'do'.
Question tags
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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You must use 'don't they?' if the tag relates to the verb 'belong'. The fact that 'belong' is a state verb, not an action verb, does not change this. 'Belong' is neither an auxiliary verb nor a modal verb, and thus the tag requires use of the verb 'do'.
Question tags
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
add a comment |
You must use 'don't they?' if the tag relates to the verb 'belong'. The fact that 'belong' is a state verb, not an action verb, does not change this. 'Belong' is neither an auxiliary verb nor a modal verb, and thus the tag requires use of the verb 'do'.
Question tags
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
add a comment |
You must use 'don't they?' if the tag relates to the verb 'belong'. The fact that 'belong' is a state verb, not an action verb, does not change this. 'Belong' is neither an auxiliary verb nor a modal verb, and thus the tag requires use of the verb 'do'.
Question tags
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
You must use 'don't they?' if the tag relates to the verb 'belong'. The fact that 'belong' is a state verb, not an action verb, does not change this. 'Belong' is neither an auxiliary verb nor a modal verb, and thus the tag requires use of the verb 'do'.
Question tags
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
edited Feb 23 at 11:36
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
answered Feb 23 at 9:11
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.6k12240
17.6k12240
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
add a comment |
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
In some dialects of English (but not in standard formal English, IMO) you can say "these books are belonging to him" instead of "these books belong to him". If that form is acceptable then presumably "These books are belonging to him, aren't they" would also be acceptable in the same dialect, but it is definitely not standard English!
– alephzero
Feb 23 at 17:26
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
Using the present continuous (present progressive) tense like that is common in (for example) Indian English, but is considered incorrect in formal and informal American and British English. It is called an "Indianism" by more careful Indian speakers.
– Michael Harvey
Feb 23 at 19:24
add a comment |
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