Question tags
Question tags are the short questions that we put on the end of
sentences particularly in spoken English. There are lots of
different question tags but the rules are not difficult to
learn.
Positive/negativeIf the main part of the sentence is positive,
the question tag is negative .
Hes a doctor, isnt he? You work in a bank, dont you?... and if
the main part of the sentence is negative, the question tag is
positive.
You havent met him, have you? She isnt coming, is she?With
auxiliary verbsThe question tag uses the same verb as the main part
of the sentence. If this is an auxiliary verb (have, be) then the
question tag is made with the auxiliary verb.
Theyve gone away for a few days, havent they? They werent here,
were they? He had met him before, hadnt he? This isnt working, is
it?Without auxiliary verbsIf the main part of the sentence doesnt
have an auxiliary verb, the question tag uses an appropriate form
of do.
I said that, didnt I? You dont recognise me, do you? She eats
meat, doesnt she?With modal verbsIf there is a modal verb in the
main part of the sentence the question tag uses the same modal
verb.
They couldnt hear me, could they? You wont tell anyone, will
you?With I amBe careful with question tags with sentences that
start I am. The question tag for I am is arent I?
Im the fastest, arent I?IntonationQuestion tags can either be
real questions where you want to know the answer or simply asking
for agreement when we already know the answer.
If the question tag is a real question we use rising intonation.
Our tone of voice rises.If we already know the answer we use
falling intonation. Our tone of voice falls.OBS!!!!!!
1. We use will/would with the imperative (Simple Present).
Ex.: Open the window, will you?Open the window, would you?
Don't open your books, will you?
2. We use won't with a polite request.
Ex.: Open the window, won't you?
3. We use shall after Let's.Ex. Let's take the next bus, shall
we?
4. Auxiliary mustWe must be at home at 8 pm, mustn't we?
Obs:
Peter can play football, __can't he______ ?
Form the personal pronoun. Peter -> he
