2. USEUSE
A question tag is a short question at the end of a
statement:
He won the prize, didn’t he?
question tag
We use question tags when we want to check if
information is correct.
3. FORMFORM
1. Use question tags at the end of a sentence:
He won the prize, didn’t he?
question tag
4. FORMFORM
2.a. NEGATIVE QUESTION TAG:
If the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative:
You have seen that film, haven’t you?
+ -
2.b. POSITIVE QUESTION TAG:
If the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive:
You haven’t seen that film, have you?
- +
If the sentence contains a negative word (never, hardly…) the
question tag is positive:
Ann never goes anywhere, does she?
- +
5. FORMFORM
3. Questions tags consist of …
AUXILIARY VERB + PRONOUN:
I shouldn’t laugh, shouldshould II?
Sarah was winning, wasn’twasn’t sheshe?
We use the auxiliary verb that is used in the previous
sentence. If there is no auxiliary verb, se use “do/does”
(present tense) and “did” (past tense):
You live near here, don’tdon’t you?
You turned left, didn’tdidn’t you?
The pronoun refers to the subject of the previous
sentence.
6. FORMFORM
4. Some verbs form question tags differently:
I am aren’t I?
I’m helpful, aren’t I?
There is isn’t there?
There is a chemist’s near here, isn’t there?
There are aren’t there?
There are many shops in the area, aren’t there?
This is / That is isn’t it?
That’s your wife over there, isn’t it?
7. FORMFORM
5. When we answer question tags, we often use short
answers:
A: You are French, aren’t you?
B: Yes, I amYes, I am. / No, I’m notNo, I’m not. SHORT ANSWERS
A: She’s got a dog, hasn’t she?
B: Yes, she hasYes, she has. / No, she hasn’tNo, she hasn’t. SHORT ANSWERS
A: You smoke, don’t you?
B: Yes, I doYes, I do. / No, I don’tNo, I don’t. SHORT ANSWERS
8. FORMFORM
6. Intonation:
When we are sure of the answer, the voice goes
down in the question tag:
John doesn’t like gold, does he?
The speaker knows John doesn’t like gold.
When we are not sure of the answer, the voice
goes up:
They left for Milan, didn’t they?
The speaker doesn’t know if they left for Milan
or not.
