Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the correct question tag: Virat bats very well, (didn't he)?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: doesn't he

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests the use of correct question tags in English grammar. Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement in order to confirm or check information. They require careful attention to tense, auxiliary verb, and subject. Here the main clause is Virat bats very well, and the bracketed part shows an incorrect tag that has to be improved by choosing the most suitable option.


Given Data / Assumptions:
The main clause is in the simple present tense: Virat bats very well. The subject is Virat, which is a third person singular noun. The main verb bats is an ordinary action verb with the s form used in the present tense. The given tag in brackets is did not he, which we know is not correct for this tense. The task is to match the correct auxiliary and pronoun with the main clause.


Concept / Approach:
In English, question tags follow a clear pattern. For a positive statement in the simple present tense with a lexical verb, we use do or does in the negative form in the tag. The pronoun in the tag must agree with the subject of the main clause. Because Virat is a third person singular subject like he, the correct auxiliary for simple present is does. Since the statement is positive, the tag has to be negative. Therefore the correct tag is does not he, commonly written as does not he in full or does not he in contracted form. Options that use is, was, or do not match this rule.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the tense of the main verb bats. It is simple present.
Step 2: Identify the subject Virat and match it with the pronoun he.
Step 3: For a simple present statement with a main verb, choose do or does as auxiliary in the tag.
Step 4: Because the subject is third person singular, select does as the auxiliary.
Step 5: The statement Virat bats very well is positive, so the question tag must be negative, giving does not he.
Step 6: Compare with options and pick does not he as the correct improvement.


Verification / Alternative check:
If we read the full sentence, Virat bats very well, does not he, it clearly follows the standard structure: positive statement plus negative tag. The subject pronoun in the tag is he, which correctly refers back to Virat. The auxiliary does matches the simple present tense with third person singular subject. This confirms that the chosen option follows accepted grammatical rules for question tags.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A uses is not it, which is used mainly after statements with the verb be or after general ideas, not after an action verb in the simple present. Option C uses was not it, which is past tense and uses the wrong pronoun. Option D suggests no improvement, but we know the original tag did not he is wrong because the auxiliary does must be used with a third person singular subject in the present tense. Option E repeats the incorrect tag from the question, so it cannot be accepted as an improvement.


Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse do and does in question tags, especially when the main verb already has the s form. Another common mistake is to use is it after any statement, ignoring the real tense and verb of the sentence. Some learners also forget to match the polarity of the tag correctly, using a positive tag after a positive statement. Careful identification of tense, auxiliary, subject, and positivity or negativity of the main clause helps avoid these errors.


Final Answer:
The correct tag is doesn't he, so the improved sentence is: Virat bats very well, does not he.

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