Tag questions Explanation

1. Tag-Questions
or
Question Tags
• Statement Sentences with short questions at
the end with a question mark!

2. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
• A ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ isA ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ is notnot a truea true
question.question.
A tag question is used at the end of a StatementA tag question is used at the end of a Statement
Sentence to get the confirmation from theSentence to get the confirmation from the
listener, or just to express one’s doubt.listener, or just to express one’s doubt.
A question sentence, on the contrary, is used toA question sentence, on the contrary, is used to
get the answer.get the answer.

3. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 YouYou areare my student. Statement Sentencemy student. Statement Sentence positivepositive
 You areYou are notnot my student. Statementmy student. Statement negativenegative
 AreAre you my student? Question (interrogative)you my student? Question (interrogative)
 You are my student,You are my student, aren’t youaren’t you? Tag-question? Tag-question

4. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Whose books are these? – a true questionWhose books are these? – a true question
 These are your books,These are your books, aren’t theyaren’t they??
-Tag-question – Positive-Tag-question – Positive
These are not your books,These are not your books, are theyare they??
- Tag-question -- Negative- Tag-question -- Negative

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

6. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 There are five simple points weThere are five simple points we
should follow when we use a Tag-should follow when we use a Tag-
question: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 book isn’t it?This is your book isn’t it?
,,

7. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
►Point 2Point 2::
►Even if the subject of the main sentence is aEven if the subject of the main sentence is a
noun – proper noun or common noun – thenoun – proper noun or common noun – the
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.
MaryMary isn’t your sister, isisn’t your sister, is sheshe??

8. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
Point 2Point 2 ((cont inuedcont inued))
J ohnJ ohn 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

9. Tag-QuestionTag-Question
 Point 2Point 2 (cont inued)(cont inued)
 Ted and J erryTed and J erry got their books, didn’tgot their books, didn’t
??
‘‘Ted and J er ry’Ted and J er ry’ – Proper nouns – male – plural– Proper nouns – male – plural
t heyt hey
Personal Pronoun – male -- pluralPersonal Pronoun – male -- plural

10. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3
 The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb in theThe verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb in the
main sentence:main sentence:
 If the verb in the main sentence is in Present Tense,If the verb in the main sentence is in Present Tense,
the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Present Tense; andthe verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Present Tense; and
the verb in the main sentence is in Past Tense, the verbthe verb in the main sentence is in Past Tense, the verb
in the ‘tag’ part will be in Past, and so on.in the ‘tag’ part will be in Past, and so on.
 If the verb in the main sentence is inIf the verb in the main sentence is in PositivePositive form, theform, the
verb in the ‘tag’ part will be inverb in the ‘tag’ part will be in NegativeNegative form.form.

11. Tag-Questions
• Point 3Point 3 (cont inued)(cont inued)
• 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

12. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3 (cont inued)(cont inued)
 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

13. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 Point 3Point 3 (cont inued)(cont inued)
 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’ part isThe negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part is
always contracted: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

14. Tag-questionsTag-questions
 Point 3Point 3 (cont inued)(cont inued)
 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

15. 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 and thesentence) the subject comes first and the
verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ part, theverb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ part, the
verb comes first and the subject comesverb comes first and the subject comes
next, just as in the interrogative sentence.next, just as in the interrogative sentence.

16. Tag-QuestionTag-Question
 Point 5Point 5 – word order– word order (cont inued)(cont inued)
For example:For example:
A woman fainted, didn’t she?A woman fainted, didn’t she?
Main sentenceMain sentence
‘‘tag’ parttag’ part
Subj ect f irst ; verb nextSubj ect f irst ; verb next
Verb f irst ; subj ect nextVerb f irst ; subj ect next

17. Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions
 There are some exceptions to some of the rulesThere are some exceptions to some of the rules
(points) we have discussed so far. To understand(points) we have discussed so far. To understand
those rules (points), first we have to master thesethose rules (points), first we have to master these
points.points.
 Therefore, let’s master these rules (points) now, andTherefore, let’s master these rules (points) now, and
then we can go for those exceptions later!then we can go for those exceptions later!