Tip 51: Countering Negatives in Question Tags

Note the different effects in the use of "hardly" in the following sentences:
1. Peter hardly reads, does he?
negative statement  => affirmative tag


2. John never acts like a gentleman, does he?
negative statement => affirmative tag


3. There is hardly any crowd at the market, isn't there?
affirmative statement => negative tag


4. Jenny could barely breathe in the thick smoke, couldn't she?
affirmative statement => negative tag


5. Nothing will cure his illness, will it?
 negative statement => affirmative tag

Tip 50: Plural or Singular? Think Twice!

1. Tony was one of the boys who was/were here yesterday.
2. None of them has/have come.
3. Each of you/us/them has/have a valid point.
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Answers:
1. were (this verb does not go with the subject "Tony" but with "the boys".)
2. both was and were are acceptable (but it seems that the schools have taught them to go for the singular - was.)
3. has (Don't be misled by "you/us/them".)