Question TagsQuestion Tags

Grammar is fun, Grammar is fun, isn’t it

A tag question A tag question is a question we can add is a question we can add to the end of a statement. to the end of a statement.

The basic rules for forming the two-word The basic rules for forming the two-word tag questions are as follows:tag questions are as follows:* the subject in the statement matches the * the subject in the statement matches the subject in the tagsubject in the tag* the auxiliary verb or verb to be in the * the auxiliary verb or verb to be in the statement matches the verb used in the statement matches the verb used in the tagtag* if the statement is positive, the tag is * if the statement is positive, the tag is usually negative and vice versausually negative and vice versa

Compare the following:Compare the following:

You've posted my You've posted my letters,letters,

You won't forget to You won't forget to check my emails, check my emails,

You're sad that I'm You're sad that I'm leaving,leaving,

You aren't going to You aren't going to cry when I leave, cry when I leave,

haven't you?haven't you?

will will you?you? aren't you?aren't you?

are you?are you?

When present and past simple tenses When present and past simple tenses appear in positive statements, appear in positive statements, normally no auxiliary verb normally no auxiliary verb (hjelpeverb) is used, but we use the (hjelpeverb) is used, but we use the auxiliaries auxiliaries doesdoes, , do do oror did did in the tag. in the tag.

In negative statements in the present In negative statements in the present or past simple, the auxiliariesor past simple, the auxiliaries doesn't, don't doesn't, don't oror didn't didn't are, of are, of course, already present. course, already present.

Compare the following:Compare the following:

You play tennis on You play tennis on Thursdays usually, Thursdays usually,

And Jack plays with you, And Jack plays with you, You didn't play last You didn't play last

Thursday,Thursday,

don't you?don't you?

doesn't he?doesn't he?

did you?did you?

When we use the there is When we use the there is structure, there is reflected in the structure, there is reflected in the tag:tag:

There'sThere's nothing nothing wrong, wrong,

ThereThere weren't any weren't any problems when you problems when you talked to Jack, talked to Jack,

is is there?there?

were there?were there?

Something / nobody /etcSomething / nobody /etc

When When no one, somebody, something, no one, somebody, something, etc is the subject in the statement, we use etc is the subject in the statement, we use itit in the tag to refer to something or in the tag to refer to something or nothing and nothing and theythey in the tag to refer to in the tag to refer to e.g. someone or nobody:e.g. someone or nobody:

SomethingSomething happened at Jack's house, happened at Jack's house, didn't didn't itit??

No oneNo one phoned, did phoned, did theythey?? SomebodySomebody wanted to borrow Jack's bike, wanted to borrow Jack's bike,

didn't they? didn't they? Who was Who was itit??

When to use tag When to use tag questions questions

We use tag questions to check We use tag questions to check information or to ask for agreement. information or to ask for agreement.

If we use a If we use a risingrising intonation in the intonation in the tag, tag, we do not know or are not we do not know or are not quite sure of the answerquite sure of the answer. .

If we use a If we use a fallingfalling intonation in the intonation in the tag, tag, we are seeking the we are seeking the agreementagreement of the person we are of the person we are talking to. talking to.

Rising intonationRising intonation We can reply to tag questions either with We can reply to tag questions either with

simple yes/no answers (negative tags simple yes/no answers (negative tags normally expect a yes answer and positive normally expect a yes answer and positive tags normally expect a no answer) or by tags normally expect a no answer) or by using yes/no + auxiliary verb. using yes/no + auxiliary verb.

In these examples, use a rising intonation In these examples, use a rising intonation in the tag. It is a genuine question. in the tag. It is a genuine question. You You are not sure what the answer will be.are not sure what the answer will be.

You haven't seen my tennis shoes, You haven't seen my tennis shoes, have have youyou? ~ No, I'm sorry. I ? ~ No, I'm sorry. I haven'thaven't..

I couldn't borrow yours by any chance, I couldn't borrow yours by any chance, could Icould I? ~ No. They ? ~ No. They wouldn'twouldn't fit you. fit you.

Falling intonationFalling intonation

In these examples, use a falling intonation in In these examples, use a falling intonation in the tag. You are simply seeking agreement.the tag. You are simply seeking agreement.

It's been a lovely day today,It's been a lovely day today, hasn't it hasn't it? ? ~ Yes, it ~ Yes, it has. Gorgeous.has. Gorgeous.

It was a lovely wedding, It was a lovely wedding, wasn't itwasn't it? ? ~ ~ Wonderful!Wonderful!

I thought Sue looking stunning in her wedding I thought Sue looking stunning in her wedding dress,dress, didn't she didn't she? ? ~ Yes, she did. Absolutely ~ Yes, she did. Absolutely stunning.stunning.

It's a shame the day is over, It's a shame the day is over, isn't itisn't it? ? ~ Yes, it ~ Yes, it is.is.