Using Tag Questions

BY G. Javier Burgos

What is a tag question?• A tag question is a sentence with a question phrase connected at

the end.

Example:It’s windy today, isn’t it?

Sentence part Tag

Tag questions have two purposes:

1. To clarify information

(the speaker expects an answer)

Example:

• We have a test tomorrow, don’t we?• Mr. Smith is coming to the meeting, isn’t he?• I’m permitted to park here, aren’t I?

Tag questions have two purposes:

2. To agree with someone

(the speaker does not expect an answer)

Example:

• You’re falling asleep, aren’t you?• The party was a lot of fun, wasn’t it?• I didn’t win the lottery, did I?

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 1: Identify the verb in the sentence.

Sergio likes to eat at buffets, ______ ______?

verb

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 2: Identify the type of verb.

(Is it the verb “to be”, an auxiliary verb, or the main verb?)

Sergio likes to eat at buffets, ______ ______?

Main verb

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 3: Identify the tense of verb.

(Is it in present or past tense?)

Sergio likes to eat at buffets, ______ ______?

Present tense

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 4: If in present tense, determine if 1st or 3rd person. If in past tense, use auxiliary “to be” or “do” in past.

Sergio likes to eat at buffets , _ _ ______?

Use the auxiliary verb “does”.

Third person

does

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 5: Is the verb affirmative or negative?

Sergio likes to eat at buffets, __________?

Write in the opposite.

Affirmative

doesn’t

Forming Tag Questions(6 easy steps)

Step 6: Add the pronoun at the end.

Sergio likes to eat at buffets, doesn’t ?

Noun

he

Overview

Step 1: Identify the verb in the sentence.

Step 2:Step 2: Identify the type of verb.Identify the type of verb.Step 3:Step 3: Identify the tense.Identify the tense.Step 4:Step 4: If in present tense, determine if 1If in present tense, determine if 1stst or 3or 3rdrd person. If in past tense, use auxiliary person. If in past tense, use auxiliary “to be” or “do” in past.“to be” or “do” in past.Step 5:Step 5: Affirmative or negative?Affirmative or negative?Step 6:Step 6: Add pronoun.Add pronoun.

Let’s Practice• Lunch was delicious, ?

• Spring break is next week, _________?

• Class finished quickly, _________?

wasn’t it

isn’t it

didn’t it

1. You’ve called the movers,2. They’re coming tomorrow,3. This isn’t going to be cheap,4. You haven’t finished packing,5. We don’t need any more boxes,6. Pablo is going to help us,7. We can put some things in storage,8. Jack isn’t buying our bookcases,9. We need to disconnect the phone,10. The movers aren’t packing the books

for us,11. We can’t turn off the electricity yet, 12. Moving is hard,

a. can we?b. do we?c. is he?d. isn’t it?e. aren’t they?f. have you?g. isn’t he?h. is it?i. haven’t you?j. don’t we?k. can’t we?l. are they?

He won the prize, didn’t he?

question tag

2.a. NEGATIVE QUESTION TAG:

If the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative:

You have seen that film, haven’t you?

+ -

2.b. POSITIVE QUESTION TAG:

If the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive:You haven’t seen that film, have you? - +

If the sentence contains a negative word (never, hardly…) the question tag is positive: Ann never goes anywhere, does she? - +

FORM3. Questions tags consist of …

AUXILIARY VERB + PRONOUN:

I shouldn’t laugh, shouldshould II?

Sarah was winning, wasn’twasn’t sheshe?

We use the auxiliary verb that is used in the previous sentence. If there is no auxiliary verb, se use “do/does” (present tense) and “did” (past tense):

You live near here, don’tdon’t you?

You turned left, didn’tdidn’t you?

The pronoun refers to the subject of the previous sentence.

FORM4. Some verbs form question tags differently:

I am aren’t I?

I’m helpful, aren’t I?

There is isn’t there?

There is a chemist’s near here, isn’t there?

There are aren’t there?

There are many shops in the area, aren’t there?

This is / That is isn’t it?

That’s your wife over there, isn’t it?

FORM5. When we answer question tags, we often use short answers:

A: You are French, aren’t you?

B: Yes, I amYes, I am. / No, I’m notNo, I’m not. SHORT ANSWERS

A: She’s got a dog, hasn’t she?

B: Yes, she hasYes, she has. / No, she hasn’tNo, she hasn’t. SHORT ANSWERS

A: You smoke, don’t you?

B: Yes, I doYes, I do. / No, I don’tNo, I don’t. SHORT ANSWERS

Note: A comma is used between the main sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g.This is your book isn’t it?

MORE-------Tag-Questions

You are my student. Statement Sentence positive

You are not my student. Statement negative

Are you my student? Question (interrogative)

You are my student, aren’t you? Tag-question

Tag-Questions

• Whose books are these? – a true question

• These are your books, aren’t they? -Tag-question – Positive

These are not your books, are they? - Tag-question -- Negative

Tag-Questions• Making a tag-question sentence:

• She is your friend

,isn’t she

?

A positive tag-question sentence!

Tag-Questions

subject of the ‘tag’ part is always a corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN. e.g.

Mary isn’t your sister, is she?

Tag-Questions• Point 2 (continued)

• John has gone home, hasn’t ?

‘John’ – proper noun – male – singularhe pronoun – male – singular – subjective case

Tag-Question• Point 2 (continued)

• Ted and Jerry got their books, didn’t ?

‘Ted and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – pluraltheyPersonal Pronoun – male -- plural

Tag-Questions

• REMEMBER---

• If the verb in the main sentence is in Positive form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Negative 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-Questions• Point 3 (continued)

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

Present perfect -- POSITIVE

Tag-Questions

Point 3 (continued)

Kate goesgoes to school, she?‘goes’ – Simple present – POSITIVEPOSITIVE

‘does not go’ – Simple present – NEGATIVENEGATIVEdoesn’tdoesn’tPoint 4Point 4

The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part is always contracted: does not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = won’t

Tag-questions• Point 3 (continued)

• James did not go to school, he? ‘did not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVE

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

Tag-questions• Point 5 -- Word order

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

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

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

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

This is what we use…• ShallEx: Let’s go out for a walk, shall we?

• Will/ would Ex: Post this letter for me, will you?

• Aren’tI’m younger than you, aren’t I ?

Think about question tags for these statements:

• I’m right,_____________?• You’ve been working late

again,_____________?• You haven’t got a pen by any

chance,____________?• Let’s have a break,_________?• Sit down a moment, ________?• You met your husband in

N.Y,___________?• We’re going to London on Saturday,

______________?• You haven’t broken that as well,

____________?

Tips!• In replies to question tags we use

short answers.You’ve been here before, haven’t you?No, I haven’t, actually!• Notice that when the information is

not correct people use actually after the short answer.

• Notice the comma before the question tag

Thanks a bunch!

G. Javier Burgos E.L.T.

elt@gmx.us