Meaning
Used to seek confirmation that something works or is adequate; equivalent to 'It works, right?'.
Primary Function
Seeking confirmation that something is deserved or fitting
Communicative Purpose
To express that someone's negative outcome is a just consequence of their actions
Pattern
It serves; right
Core Structure
It serves; right
Função primária
Seeking confirmation that something is deserved or fitting
Propósito comunicativo
To express that someone's negative outcome is a just consequence of their actions
Situações de gatilho
Moralizing, gossip, reacting to someone's misfortune as karmic payback
Contextos
Conversation, informal
Padrão
It serves; right
Estrutura central
It serves; right
Slots de substituição
Pronoun can be he, she, you, them
Colocados típicos
- It serves him right
- It serves you right for not listening
Substituições comuns
- He had it coming (more direct)
- That's what you get (more casual)
Erros comuns
Using a positive tag: *It serves him right, isn't it?*; placing the pronoun after 'right': *It serves right him*
Similar / contraste
He had it coming; That's what you get; You reap what you sow
Interferências
Learners may incorrectly use a positive tag question after an affirmative statement (e.g., 'It serves, isn't it?') instead of the correct negative tag.
Família do chunk
- Isn't it?
- Right?
- Okay?
Nuance
Informal tag question used to assert that someone's negative outcome is fitting, often with a tone of schadenfreude
Efeito pragmático
Asserts moral judgment while inviting agreement, reinforcing social norms through shared evaluation
Dica de memória
Deserved, right?
Nota
Used to seek confirmation that something works or is adequate.
Upgrade path
That's what you get
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