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Q: A tag question and noun clauses

YuriHere's a question from a test to which I think there are two answers. 1) People from other countries think British are cold and unfriendly, ....? a) are they b) aren't they c) do they d) don't they I think b and d can be both true depending on which part of the sentence we'd like to...

grammar tag-questions
Rompey
Rompey
People from other countries think (that) British are cold and unfriendly, don't they?
Azad
Azad
@Rompey If I replace the subject before think with I e.i. "I think ...", I should say aren't they? My question is why can't it be true here with people from other countries as the subject?!
Michael Harvey
Michael Harvey
I would use 'the British'.
Speaking as a British person, I think the premise of the question is doubtful.
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
You are mistaken, Yuri, aren't you. I think you are mistaken, Yuri, don't I.
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo I think it's cold today, isn't it? I don't think you'd say don't I?!
@Michael Harvey Thank you! I think the same.
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
13:43
@Yuri Your example about it being cold today is not idiomatic, IMO. It's cold today, isn't it. is what a native speaker would say, not "I think it's cold today, isn't it."
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo OK. How about this one. I've heard he has a big firm overseas, doesn't he? I mean sometimes when you express an opinion you do this. The tag ending agrees with the noun clause, doesn't it?
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
@Yuri "I've heard" is not an expression of opinion. It is rumor. And your sentence is again not idiomatic. Doesn't he have a big firm overseas? or He has a big firm overseas, doesn't | hasn't he?
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo I think he's German, isn't he? Is it something about the verb think? Like no matter what the subject is, the tag question should agree with that?
@Tᴚoɯɐuo Oh God! They taught us these rules and now they're making tests out of it! Unbelievable! What should I do now?!
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
I think it's going to be cold today, isn't it? asks the listener for confirmation. I think it's cold today, don't you? is how we would ask for the listener's opinion. The tag can agree with the verb in I think's content-clause when confirmation is sought. He's German, isn't he? or I think he's German, isn't he?
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo I see. As a rule of thumb, if it's I as the subject, two possibilities as you made examples for. If other subjects we stick to think and the subject of it. Again here don't you would be possible. Very helpful. Thanks a lot.
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
13:43
You think a rule of thumb is a good thing to have: a) isn't it ... or b) don't you ?
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo Both are correct based on you what mean. But I'd say don't you is better?!... No, just 'don't you' right?
Tᴚoɯɐuo
Tᴚoɯɐuo
I'd say that only don't you is correct. When the assertion is about the listener, not about the world, what the speaker is asking confirmation of is the truth of the assertion about the listener. You really hate castor oil, don't you? You think castor oil tastes awful, don't you?
Azad
Azad
@Tᴚoɯɐuo Yes yes I got it now. I quickly edited my answer though I wasn't sure. Thank you. You really helped me out here :-)

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