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Which is correct?

Few people knew the way, didn't they?
Few people knew the way, did they?

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1  
Same as for "nobody". But there's a difference here between "few" and "a few". – Peter Shor Nov 8 '12 at 14:45
I would bail on this and simply write, "Few people knew the way, right?" – Robusto Nov 8 '12 at 15:13
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Why the down vote? This is a legitimate question? – Robusto Nov 8 '12 at 15:39

2 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

The question is difficult, because the example itself is unwieldy at best. As Peter pointed out, few and a few have opposite meanings in this context, so it would be unusual to use either where there is risk of confusion. Since few here means 'not many', and simple reference to negatives gives us Not many people knew the way, did they?, I would say few also takes did. Conversely, a few, meaning 'some', would take didn't. But whichever you mean, it is better to recast the sentence.

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It is a difficult question; indeed, it made an interesting homework exercise for my Intro Ling class. – John Lawler Nov 8 '12 at 15:06
+1 for recasting the sentence. English constructions like question tags aren't something that always work, are they? – Robusto Nov 8 '12 at 15:38
There's another problem with tag questions: pitch, stress, and intonation. The second question can be asked in at least three ways with different meanings. One way asks for confirmation: "Yes, few did". One suggests the assertion is false because the speaker implies that many knew the way. One, without question intonation, declares the speaker's certainty and asks nothing: in writing it would end with a period, not a question mark. – Bill Franke Nov 8 '12 at 16:46
@BillFranke: can you expand on your third point? Leaving aside that without a question mark it isn't really a tag question, I know no construction using did they and a full stop (apart from did they but know it and the like, or perhaps "I crashed your car". "Did you." which requires a different speaker.). – TimLymington Nov 8 '12 at 16:53
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@BillFranke: See this question. – Robusto Nov 8 '12 at 17:50
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up vote 2 down vote

Few means almost none => implying negativity => Did they.

A few means, little but there is some => Didn't they.

Few people knew the way, did they?

A few people knew the way, didn't they?

Source: Google => PDF document

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That's right. Few (but not a few) is a Negative Trigger, and requires an affirmative tag; a few is not negative and requires a negative tag. – John Lawler Nov 8 '12 at 15:04

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