Scribd
Upload
548 views6 pages

Understanding English Question Tags

This document discusses the rules for using question tags in English sentences. It explains that question tags are negative if the statement is positive and vice versa. It also describes how to form question tags depending on whether the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, modal verb, or "I am". Finally, it notes that intonation can indicate whether the question tag is a real question or seeking agreement.

Uploaded by

Jeshwary Kumar
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 PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
548 views6 pages

Understanding English Question Tags

This document discusses the rules for using question tags in English sentences. It explains that question tags are negative if the statement is positive and vice versa. It also describes how to form question tags depending on whether the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, modal verb, or "I am". Finally, it notes that intonation can indicate whether the question tag is a real question or seeking agreement.

Uploaded by

Jeshwary Kumar
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 PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

TAG QUESTIONS

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/negative

If 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 verbs

The 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 verbs

If 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 verbs

With modal verbs

If 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 am

Be careful with question tags with sentences that start I am. The question tag for I am is arent I? Im the fastest, arent I?

Intonation Question 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.

You might also like