11. Introduction
In grammar, a question tag is a very short
clause at the end of a statement which changes
the statement into a question. For example, in
'She said half price, didn't she?', the words
'didn't she' are a question tag.” We use
question tags when we want to check if
information is correct.
13. Structure
Questions tags consist of …
Auxiliary Verb + Pronoun:
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’t you?
You turned left, didn’t you?
The pronoun refers to the subject of the previous sentence.
14. +ve, -ve tags
NEGATIVE QUESTION TAG:
If the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative:
You have seen that film, haven’t you?
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?
15. Intonation
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.
16. Short Answers
A: You are French, aren’t you?
B: Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. SHORT ANSWER
A: She’s got a dog, hasn’t she?
B: Yes, she has. / No, she hasn’t. SHORT ANSWER
A: You smoke, don’t you?
B: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t. SHORT ANSWER
