Mondatkérdések

Mondatkérdések, often translated as "sentence questions" or "question tags," are grammatical structures used to confirm or seek agreement on a statement. They are typically appended to the end of a declarative sentence and are formed by an auxiliary verb or a modal verb, followed by a pronoun that refers to the subject of the main clause. The auxiliary verb in the question tag usually contrasts in polarity with the auxiliary verb in the main statement; if the statement is affirmative, the tag is negative, and vice versa.

For instance, if the main sentence is "You are coming with us, aren't you?", the statement is affirmative, and the question tag "aren't you?" is negative. Conversely, in the sentence "He didn't go to the party, did he?", the statement is negative, and the question tag "did he?" is affirmative. Special cases exist for verbs like "to be" and modal verbs, as well as for statements using "I am" where the tag becomes "aren't I?".

The purpose of mondatkérdések is to encourage a response, often a simple yes or no, and to solicit confirmation or express a degree of uncertainty or surprise. They are common in spoken language and play a role in conversational interaction, helping to maintain the flow of dialogue and ensure understanding between speakers. The intonation used with a mondatkérdés can also convey its precise function; a falling intonation suggests the speaker is seeking confirmation of something they already believe to be true, while a rising intonation indicates genuine curiosity or a need for information.