The document discusses tag questions in English. Tag questions are statements followed by a mini-question, called a question tag. They are used to ask for confirmation of a statement, meaning "am I right?" or "do you agree?". The structure is a positive statement followed by a negative tag, or a negative statement followed by a positive tag. Examples are given of common tag questions with different subjects, auxiliaries, and verbs. Special cases and the use of intonation to change meaning are also covered.

1. TAG QUESTIONS

2. TAG QUESTIONS Tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag".

3. We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like: "Am I right?" or "Do you agree?" They are very common in English. TAG QUESTIONS

4. TAG QUESTIONS BASIC STRUCTURE + Positive statement - Negative tag? It is a great day, isn’t it? - Negative statement + Positive tag? You don’t know her, do you?

5. TAG QUESTIONS

6. Examples with positive statements Positive statement [ + ] Negative tag [ - ] Subject Auxiliary Main verb Auxiliary Not Personal pronoun (same as subject) She is cooking, is n’t she? You like icecream, do n’t you? They will stay home, wo n’t they? He can play chess, can n’t he? We should go home, should n’t we? Jenny was busy, was n’t she? You are French, are n’t you? They have finished have n’t they?

7. Examples with positive statements

8. Examples with negative statements Negative statement [ - ] Positive tag [ + ] Subject Auxiliary Main verb auxiliary Personal pronouns It is n’t snowing, is It? You have never been there have you? She does n’t like pork, does she? they did n’t practice today did they? he can n’t come, can he? We should n’t drink much, should we? They are n’t home, are they? Jane was n’t sick was she?

9. Special cases I am right, are n't I? aren't I ( not amn't I) You have to go, do n't you? you (do) have to go... I have been answering, have n't I? use first auxiliary Nothing came in the post, did it? treat statements with nothing, nobody etc like negative statements Let's go, shall we? let's = let us He 'd better do it, had n't he? he had better (no auxiliary)

11. MIXED EXAMPLES But you don't really love her, do you? This will work, won't it? Well, I couldn't help it, could I? But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you? We'd never have known, would we? The weather's bad, isn't it? You won't be late, will you? Nobody knows, do they?

12. INTONATION We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer:

13. INTONATION intonation You don't know where my wallet is, do you? rising real question It's a beautiful view, isn't it? falling not a real question

14. QUESTIONS TAGS WITH IMPERATIVES Sometimes we use question tags with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won't for invitations. We use can, can't, will, would for orders.

15. QUESTIONS TAGS WITH IMPERATIVES Imperative + question tags Notes: invitation Take a seat, won't you? polite order Help me, can you? quite friendly Help me, can't you? quite friendly (some irritation?) Close the door, would you? quite polite Do it now, will you? less polite Don't forget, will you? with negative imperatives only will is possible

16. By CAMILO HERRERA JORGE MOLINA Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó Faculty of Education

17. REFERENCES http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-questions-tag.htm