Tag-Questions

• Statement Sentences with short questions at the end with a question mark!

Tag-Questions

• Making a tag-question sentence:

• She is your friend

,isn’t she

? A positive tag-question sentence!

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

There are five simple points we There 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 main A 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?

,,

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions►Point 2Point 2::

►Even if the subject of the main sentence is Even if the subject of the main sentence is a noun – proper noun or common noun – a noun – proper noun or common noun – thethesubject of the ‘tag’ part is always a subject of the ‘tag’ part is always a corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN. e.g.corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN. e.g.

MaryMary isn’t your sister, is isn’t your sister, is sheshe??

Tag-QuestionsTag-QuestionsPoint 2 Point 2 ((continuedcontinued))

JohnJohn has gone home, hasn’t ?has gone home, hasn’t ?‘‘John’ – proper noun – male – singularJohn’ – proper noun – male – singularhehe pronoun – male – singular – subjective casepronoun – male – singular – subjective case

Tag-QuestionTag-Question Point 2Point 2 (continued)(continued)

Ted and JerryTed and Jerry got their books, didn’t got their books, didn’t ? ?‘‘Ted and Jerry’Ted and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – – Proper nouns – male – pluralpluraltheytheyPersonal Pronoun – male -- pluralPersonal Pronoun – male -- plural

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions Point 3Point 3

The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb in the main sentence: in the main sentence:

If the verb in the main sentence is in Present If the verb in the main sentence is in Present Tense, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Tense, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Present Tense; and the verb in the main Present Tense; and the verb in the main sentence is in Past Tense, the verb in the ‘tag’ sentence is in Past Tense, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Past, and so on.part will be in Past, and so on.

If the verb in the main sentence is in If the verb in the main sentence is in PositivePositive form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in NegativeNegative form. form.

Tag-Questions

• Point 3Point 3 (continued)(continued)• She She 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

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued)

Brad Brad hasn’t hasn’t done his work, he?done his work, he?‘‘hasn’t’ – Present perfect – hasn’t’ – Present perfect – NEGATIVENEGATIVEhashas

Present perfect -- Present perfect -- POSITIVEPOSITIVE

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued) Kate Kate 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’tPoint 4Point 4

The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part is The 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

Tag-questionsTag-questions Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued)

James James 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, in go’ – Simple past – Positive; however, in ‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb ‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb alone is used:alone is used:did did

Tag-questionsTag-questions• Point 5Point 5 -- Word order -- Word order

• In the statement sentence (in the main In the statement sentence (in the main sentence) the subject comes first and sentence) the subject comes first and the verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ the verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ part, the verb comes first and the part, the verb comes first and the subject comes next, just as in the subject comes next, just as in the interrogative sentence.interrogative sentence.

Tag-QuestionTag-Question Point 5Point 5 – word order – word order (continued)(continued)

For example:For example:A woman fainted, didn’t she?A woman fainted, didn’t she?

Main sentenceMain sentence‘‘tag’ parttag’ partSubject first; verb nextSubject first; verb nextVerb first; subject nextVerb first; subject next

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

There are some exceptions to some of the rules There 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 these those rules (points), first we have to master these points.points.

Therefore, let’s master these rules (points) now, and Therefore, let’s master these rules (points) now, and then we can go for those exceptions later!then we can go for those exceptions later!