英语里有些结构看起来简单,但一不小心就会踩坑。比如那种 “……,不是吗?” 的句型,也就是 反意疑问句(tag question),很多人都觉得简单,其实藏着不少小细节。咱们就说一个常见错误:"Isn't everybody?" 这个说法听起来好像没毛病,但其实是错的。那正确该怎么说?
来看这个句子:
Everybody is glad to help him, isn't everybody?
这个句子的问题出在后半句的 isn't everybody 上。虽然前半句主语是 everybody,但在英语中,这类泛指人称词在反意疑问句中用法是有讲究的。
正确的说法是:
Everybody is glad to help him, isn't he?
是不是有点奇怪?不是“大家”吗,为什么反意疑问句要用 he?这其实是英语的一种用法习惯,尤其当主语是像 everybody, nobody, anybody, someone 这类泛指单数时,反意疑问句里通常会用 he 或 they。
| 主语 | 反意疑问句主语 |
|---|---|
| Everybody / Everyone | he 或 they |
| Nobody / No one | he 或 they |
| Anybody / Anyone / Somebody / Someone | they |
| None of + 复数名词 | they |
举个例子你就明白了:
Everybody likes to be respected, doesn't he?(每个人都喜欢被尊重,是吧?)
Nobody will accept his invitation, will he?(没人会接受他的邀请,对吧?)
None of the students passed the test, did they?(这些学生一个都没通过考试,是吗?)
Someone called you last night, didn't they?(昨晚有人给你打过电话,对吧?)
例句 1:
Nobody would be foolish enough to accept such a suggestion, would they?
没有人会傻到接受这样的建议,对吧?
例句 2:
Somebody has told you about our plan, haven't they?
有人已经告诉你我们的计划了,不是吗?
例句 3:
Anyone can make this mistake, can't they?
任何人都可能犯这种错误,是吧?
例句 4:
Everybody is already inside, isn't he?
大家都已经进去了,对吧?
现代英语中,they 越来越常用于泛指单数,避免性别歧义,听起来也更自然。
例如:Somebody left their phone here, didn’t they?
在口语和非正式写作中,更推荐使用 they,即使前面是 somebody / everybody 这种单数形式。
一、选择正确的反意疑问部分:
Everybody wants a second chance, ______?
A. doesn't everybody
B. doesn't he
C. don't they
Nobody agreed with him, ______?
A. did they
B. did he
C. didn't they
None of the workers arrived on time, ______?
A. did he
B. did they
C. didn't he
二、把下列句子中的反意疑问部分改正:
Everybody was informed of the meeting, wasn't everybody?
Somebody has broken the window, hasn't he?
No one believes his excuse, does he?
三、翻译句子:
没人想离开,是吧?
有人把灯关了,对不对?
每个人都已经收到通知了,是吧?