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Tag Question Summary and Exercises

The document explains the usage and formation of question tags in English, which are short questions added to the end of statements to seek confirmation or agreement. It outlines rules for creating question tags based on the main verb's tense and provides examples for various scenarios, including special cases like imperatives and suggestions. Additionally, it includes exercises for practice and an answer key.

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cayfurkanilteber
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7 views

Tag Question Summary and Exercises

The document explains the usage and formation of question tags in English, which are short questions added to the end of statements to seek confirmation or agreement. It outlines rules for creating question tags based on the main verb's tense and provides examples for various scenarios, including special cases like imperatives and suggestions. Additionally, it includes exercises for practice and an answer key.

Uploaded by

cayfurkanilteber
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Question Tags

USAGE

Question tags are little questions that people often use at the end of a sentence when
talking. They can be used to make sure something is true/correct or to ask for
agreement.

- You want coffee, don't you?


- You have seen the film, haven´t you?
- That’s your bag, isn't it?

They are very common and useful because using tags is an easy and quick way to
keep people's attention, so we can keep the conversation going. Remember to always
use a pronoun in the tag instead of names and other subjects.

- A: The weather is very cold today, isn't it? B: Exactly, it’s freezing.
- A: Laura was born in Berlin, wasn’t she? B: Oh yes, I think so.

FORM

You can only make a question tag using modals or auxiliaries in the tag, so if the main
verb in the sentence is in present simple or past simple form, then we use
DO/DOES/DID to make the question tag. For sentences with modals or other tenses,
the question tag should be the same as in the main sentence.

- You like coffee, don't you? (like: main verb -> use the auxiliary of present simple “do”)
- Susan bought a new house, didn't she? (bought: main verb -> use the auxiliary of past
simple “did”)
- You can help me, can't you? (can: modal verb -> all modal verbs are also auxiliary
verbs)
- He is Mr Smith, isn't he? (am/is/are and was/were should be used in the tag when
there is no main verb in the sentence)
- They're making tea, aren't they? (use the auxiliary of present continuous “are”)
- Your father will be there by ten, won't he? (use the auxiliary of will future “won’t”)
- You've been to London, haven't you? (use the auxiliary of present perfect “have”)

We use an affirmative question tag after a negative sentence


- It isn't very cold, is it?
- Mark can't speak French, can he?
- Your cousins didn´t come to visit us, did they?
And a negative question tag after an affirmative sentence
- It is very cold, isn't it?
- She likes this film, doesn't she?
- Your friend will come to the party, won't he?

Note that we talk about affirmative or negative sentences, not necessarily verbs:
- You ate nothing there, did you? ("You have nothing" is negative, so the question tag is
affirmative.

MEANING

The meaning of a question tag depends on the intonation: A falling intonation is just
looking for agreement, a rising intonation is a question, looking for confirmation or
correction.

- Kelly will come later, won't she? ↗


- No, I think she won't come because she was feeling ill today.

- Kelly will come later, won’t she? ↘


- Sure, don't worry. She'll be here in a few minutes.

Question Tags: Special Cases


I AM

The negative question tag "am I not" has no contraction. Because a question tag with
no contraction sounds very pedantic, we prefer a very ungrammatical construction but
which is correct for question tags: "aren't I?"

- I'm late, aren't I?


- I'm talking to the walls, aren't I?

SUGGESTIONS

After a sentence with Let's... we use "shall we?"

- Let's go out for a walk, shall we?


- Let's study tomorrow morning, shall we?

IMPERATIVES & INVITATIONS

After an imperative we use "will you?" (always affirmative). We can consider "will you?"
as an equivalent to "please" (more or less)

- Open the door, will you?


- Don't smoke in this room, will you?
- Come to my party, will you?
- Have a coffee, will you?
- Don't look at me like that, will you?

THERE IS, etc.

In the impersonal construction to show existence (there is/are/will be, etc.) THERE acts
as the subject of the question tag too.
- There are two cats in the roof, aren't there?
- There wasn't a lion in the park, was there?

Exercises: Complete the sentences using the correct question tags.

1. You're addicted to shopping, __________________?


2. They weren't part of the regular team, __________________?
3. You can't give it back to the owner, __________________?
4. Let's take a day off tomorrow, __________________?
5. She has her hair styled every week, __________________?
6. Mum will be happy to see you, __________________?
7. John keeps talking all the time. That's disgusting, __________________?
8. They haven't ever bought a new car, __________________?
9. I'm such a good swimmer, __________________?
10. He wouldn't agree with you, __________________?
11. There's really nothing more to say, __________________?
12. I shouldn't criticise the teacher, __________________?
13. Please pass me the sugar, __________________?
14. You mustn't play on the freshly cut grass, __________________?
15. You don't want him to come with us, __________________?
16. She hardly said anything, __________________?
17. You do have a receipt, __________________?
18. Peter and Jenny want to be alone, __________________?
19. You weren't ill last week, __________________?
20. I needn't come with you, __________________?
21. I didn't have a chance to thank you, __________________?
22. You had the car repaired, __________________?
23. She never met anyone else, __________________?
24. Let's go to the cinema, __________________?
25. They could make it to the train in time, __________________?
26. Dad won't be with us next week, __________________?
27. If we had more money, we would travel a lot, __________________?
28. You have lunch with your family on Sundays, __________________?
29. It got very late yesterday, __________________?
30. I am not going to have to tell you again, __________________?

ANSWER KEY

1. You're addicted to shopping, aren't you?


2. They weren't part of the regular team, were they?
3. You can't give it back to the owner, can you?
4. Let's take a day off tomorrow, shall we?
5. She has her hair styled every week, doesn't she?
6. Mum will be happy to see you, won't she?
7. John keeps talking all the time. That's disgusting, isn't it
8. They haven't ever bought a new car, have they?
9. I'm such a good swimmer, aren't I?
10. He wouldn't agree with you, would he?
11. There's really nothing more to say, is there?
12. I shouldn't criticise the teacher, should I?
13. Please pass me the sugar, will you?
14. You mustn't play on the freshly cut grass, must you?
15. You don't want him to come with us, do you?
16. She hardly said anything, did she?
17. You do have a receipt, don't you?
18. Peter and Jenny want to be alone, don't they?
19. You weren't ill last week, were you?
20. I needn't come with you, do I?
21. I didn't have a chance to thank you, did I?
22. You had the car repaired, didn't you?
23. She never met anyone else, did she?
24. Let's go to the cinema, shall we?
25. They could make it to the train in time, couldn't they.
26. Dad won't be with us next week, will he?
27. If we had more money, we would travel a lot, wouldn't we?
28. You have lunch with your family on Sundays, don't you?
29. It got very late yesterday, didn't it?
30. I am not going to have to tell you again, am I?

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