What question tag should be used with the modal NEED?
Nobody need hurry, need they?
or
Nobody need hurry, do they?
or both are wrong?
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[correction: Nobody needs to hurry].– LambieCommented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:36
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1I am asking about the modal need.– user1425Commented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:37
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1You need to correct your grammar first. Anyway, the verb "need" is not a modal.– LambieCommented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:39
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1I don't need to correct my grammar first. If I do it, I won't be asking questions here. If you think need is not a modal then you are welcome to read this collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/need– user1425Commented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:41
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"Nobody need hurry" is negative, so the choice is between the positive tags "do they?" and "need they?" The rule is that if the anchor verb is an auxiliary, select the same verb, otherwise select "do". Since "need" is an auxiliary here, it follows that the tag should be "need they?"– BillJCommented Mar 25, 2021 at 16:50
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1 Answer
As a British speaker I would expect:
Nobody needs to hurry, do they?
However, and in response to your comment, we could also say
Nobody need hurry, need they?
The second option sounds strange but is also correct (in my opinion).
My understanding is that if you use 'need' and 'to' you are using need as a main verb, not as a semi-modal verb. (Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/need)
answered Mar 25, 2021 at 15:10
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I'm not sure I understand your comment. We say he / she / it / they / nobody / everybody needs and I / you / we need Commented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:25
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1Need can be embodied in two entities: 1 as a main verb, 2 as a modal verb. That's why it's called a semi-modal verb.– user1425Commented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:39
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2@Lambie It's not modal in your examples, but it's modal in "Nobody need hurry", "You needn't have bothered" or "Need I go on?".– rjpondCommented Mar 25, 2021 at 15:45
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2"Nobody need hurry" is negative, so the choice is between the positive tags "do they?" and "need they?" The rule is that if the anchor verb is an auxiliary, select the same verb, otherwise select "do". Since "need" is an auxiliary here, the tag should be "need they?"– BillJCommented Mar 25, 2021 at 16:48