1. Mrs. Anabel Montes - English teacher

2. Question Tags
• Statement Sentences with short
questions at the end with a question
mark!

3. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
• A ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ isA ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ is notnot aa
true question.true question.
A tag question is used at the end of aA tag question is used at the end of a
Statement Sentence to get theStatement Sentence to get the
confirmationconfirmation from the listener, or justfrom the listener, or just
to express one’s doubt.to express one’s doubt.

4. Tag-Questions
• Making a tag-question sentence:
• She is your friend , isn’t she ?
A positive tag-question sentence!

5. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 There are five simple points we shouldThere are five simple points we should
follow when we use a Tag-question:follow when we use a Tag-question:
 Point 1Point 1
 A comma is used between the mainA comma is used between the main
sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g.sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g.
 This is your bookThis is your book,, isn’t it?isn’t it?

6. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
►Point 2Point 2::
►Even if the subject of the main sentenceEven if the subject of the main sentence
is a noun – proper noun or common noun –is a noun – proper noun or common noun –
thethe
subject of the ‘tag’ part is always asubject of the ‘tag’ part is always a
corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN.corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN.
e.g.e.g.

7. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
Point 2Point 2 ((continuedcontinued))
JohnJohn has gone home, hasn’t ?has gone home, hasn’t ?
‘‘John’ – proper noun – male – singularJohn’ – proper noun – male – singular
hehe
pronoun – male – singular – subjective casepronoun – male – singular – subjective case

8. Tag-QuestionTag-Question
 Point 2Point 2 (continued)(continued)
 Ted and JerryTed and Jerry got their books, didn’tgot their books, didn’t
??
‘‘Ted and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – pluralTed and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – plural
theythey
Personal Pronoun – male -- pluralPersonal Pronoun – male -- plural

9. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3
 The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verbThe verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb
in the main sentence:in the main sentence:
 If the verb in the main sentence is inIf the verb in the main sentence is in PositivePositive
form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be inform, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in
NegativeNegative form.form.

10. Tag-Questions
• Point 3Point 3 (continued)(continued)
• SheShe isis your sister, she?your sister, she?
““is” – main verb – Simple Present Tense –is” – main verb – Simple Present Tense –POSITIVEPOSITIVE
isn’tisn’t
–– Simple present tense –Simple present tense – NEGATIVENEGATIVE

11. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3 (continued)(continued)
 BradBrad hasn’thasn’t done his work, he?done his work, he?
‘‘hasn’t’ – Present perfect –hasn’t’ – Present perfect – NEGATIVENEGATIVE
hashas
Present perfect --Present perfect -- POSITIVEPOSITIVE

12. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3 (continued)(continued)
 KateKate goesgoes to school, she?to school, she?
‘‘goes’ – Simple present –goes’ – Simple present – POSITIVEPOSITIVE
‘‘does not go’ – Simple present –does not go’ – Simple present – NEGATIVENEGATIVE
doesn’tdoesn’t
Point 4Point 4
The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ partThe negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part
is always contracted:is always contracted:
does not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = won’tdoes not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = won’t

13. Tag-questionsTag-questions
 Point 3Point 3 (continued)(continued)
 JamesJames did not godid not go to school, he?to school, he?
‘‘did not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVEdid not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVE
‘‘go’ – Simple past – Positive; however, ingo’ – Simple past – Positive; however, in
‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb
alone is used:alone is used:
diddid

14. Tag-questionsTag-questions
• Point 5Point 5 -- Word order-- Word order
• In the statement sentence (in the mainIn the statement sentence (in the main
sentence) the subject comes first andsentence) the subject comes first and
the verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’the verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’
part, the verb comes first and thepart, the verb comes first and the
subject comes next, just as in thesubject comes next, just as in the
interrogative sentence.interrogative sentence.

15. Tag-QuestionTag-Question
 Point 5Point 5 – word order (continued)– word order (continued)
For example:For example:
A woman fainted, didn’t she?A woman fainted, didn’t she?
Main sentenceMain sentence
‘‘tag’ parttag’ part
Subject first; verb nextSubject first; verb next
Verb first; subject nextVerb first; subject next