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Tag Question

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement to check or verify information. Tag questions are formed by adding an auxiliary verb and a pronoun at the end of a statement. For positive statements, a negative tag is typically used, while negative statements are followed by a positive tag. The verb in the tag question matches the tense of the verb in the statement. Tag questions can also be used with imperatives, though they do not require a direct response. Certain adverbs like "never" turn a statement negative when used, affecting the formation of the tag question.

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Muhit Al Abdullah
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106 views5 pages

Tag Question

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement to check or verify information. Tag questions are formed by adding an auxiliary verb and a pronoun at the end of a statement. For positive statements, a negative tag is typically used, while negative statements are followed by a positive tag. The verb in the tag question matches the tense of the verb in the statement. Tag questions can also be used with imperatives, though they do not require a direct response. Certain adverbs like "never" turn a statement negative when used, affecting the formation of the tag question.

Uploaded by

Muhit Al Abdullah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tag question

What is a tag question?


A tag question is a short question added to the end of a positive or negative statement. Tag questions are used to verify or check information that we think is true or to check information that we aren't sure is true. Sometimes we just use them for effect, when we are trying to be sarcastic, or to make a strong point. For example:Statement He is a good player, He does prayer, He will prosper in life, He can, Tag isn't he? doesn't he? won't he? can't he?

How are they formed?


Normally a positive statement is followed by a negative tag, and a negative statement is followed by a positive tag. For example:-

Positive (+) Negative (-)


You're English, aren't you?

You're not German, are you?

The statement and the tag are always separated by a comma (,).

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The verb in the statement should be the same tense as the verb in the tag. For example: Present tense present tense You are a good singer, aren't you?

Past tense past tense You didn't go to work yesterday, Present perfect tense You have been to London, did you? present perfect tense haven't you?

Look at these examples with positive statements. You will see that most of the time, the auxiliary verb from the positive statement is repeated in the tag and changed to negative. positive statement [+] subject auxiliary main verb coming, finished, like like will can must should help, come, go, try are was harder, English, there, coffee, coffee, negative tag [-] auxiliary not personal pronoun (same as subject) you? we? you? you? (Here do is omitted) they? I? we? he? you? he? Pronoun of John is He

You We You You They I We He You John

are have do

are have do do wo can must should are was

n't n't n't n't n't 't n't n't n't n't

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The

adverbs never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and scarcely have

negative sense. If these adverbs are used in a sentence then the statement will treat as a negative sentence:positive statement treated as negative statement He never came again, She can rarely come these days, You hardly ever came late, I barely know you, You would scarcely expect her to know that, positive tag did he? can she? did you? do I? would you?

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. Invitation Take a seat, won't you?

Order

Help me, can you?

Close the door, would you?

Do it now, will you.

Don't forget, will you.

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Some More Special Cases


I am right, aren't I? You have to go, don't you? I have been answering, haven't I? Nothing came in the post, did it? Nothing, nobody etc. are negative statements Let's go, shall we? let's = let us aren't I (not amn't I) you (do) have to go... use first auxiliary (have)

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Lets practice:
But you don't really love her, do you? This'll work, won't it? ..(Thisll= This will) do you? couldn't help it, could I? you'll tell me if she calls, won't you? We'd never have known, would we? ..(Wed= We would) weather's bad, isn't it? won't be late, will you? Nobody knows, do they? never come on time, do you? Shut up, will you?.........(Here someone is giving order) hardly love him after all that, can she? (Here hardly is in negetive sense) Nothing will happen, will it? . (Nothing is in negative sense) Kindly do me a favour, will/wont you? Lets have a walk, shell we? Nobody likes him, do they? I am guilty for this, arent I? (am not= arent) How sweetly the birds sing, dont they? Let them do their work, will you? Nothing is certain, is it? Look at the address card, will you?

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