TAG QUESTIONS
QUESTION TAGS
What are tag questions?
Tag questions:
- Turn a statement into a question.
- They are often used for checking information that we think we know is true.
Tag questions:
- Get quick response on a topic.
- Reaffirm what was previously expressed.
- Know the listener's opinion.
In tag questions we use two parts:
sentence + question
main clause
Example:
The party is at 3:00, isn't it?
She doesn't have any children, does she?
Usually if the main clause is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the main clause is negative, the question is positive.
EXAMPLES IN DIFFERENT TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT
Other verbs
Verb "be"
It's not cold outside, is it?
You play tennis, don't you?
I don't need to finish this today, do I?
We’re late again, aren’t we?
He isn't here, is he?
They need some new clothes, don’t they?
She studies very hard every night, doesn’t she?
I'm in charge of the food, aren't I?
Exception
SIMPLE PAST
Other verbs
Verb "be"
He went to the party last night, didn't he?
It was cold yesterday, wasn't it?
VS
The phone didn't ring, did it?
Mark and Sarah weren't at home yesterday, were they?
It is important to know that the auxiliary verb in the negative question must be contracted.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
James is working on the new project, isn't he?
The children are playing outside, aren´t they?
PAST CONTINUOUS
We were waiting at the station, weren't we?
It was raining that day, wasn't it?
PRESENT PERFECT
Marco has been to Japan, hasn't he?
Your parents have been married for 35 years, haven't they?
PAST PERFECT
He had forgotten his wallet, hadn't he?
Your mum hadn't met me before, had she?
SIMPLE FUTURE
Anna will come at six, won't she?
You won't tell anyone, will you?
MODAL VERBS
John shouldn't do that, should he?
You can help me, can't you?
That could be possible, couldn't that?
ANSWERING TAG QUESTIONS
The form of your answer depends on whether you agree or disagree with the question.
It's not cold outside, is it? No, it's not.
The person responding agrees that it is not cold. The statement and response are both negative.
It's warm outside, isn't it? Yes, it is.
The person responding agrees that it is warm. The statement and response are both positive.
If you disagree, the response is in the same format at the question tag. When you disagree, it is common to add more information to your response.
It's not cold outside, is it? Yes, it is. You should wear a coat.
The person disagrees with the statement it's not cold. The question tag and response are both positive.
We are leaving at 3:00, aren't we? No, we're not. We're leaving at 2:00.
Thank you!
Tag questions
Aldo Benítez Sánchez
Created on July 22, 2020
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Transcript
TAG QUESTIONS
QUESTION TAGS
What are tag questions?
Tag questions:
Tag questions:
In tag questions we use two parts:
sentence + question
main clause
Example:
The party is at 3:00, isn't it?
She doesn't have any children, does she?
Usually if the main clause is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the main clause is negative, the question is positive.
EXAMPLES IN DIFFERENT TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT
Other verbs
Verb "be"
It's not cold outside, is it?
You play tennis, don't you?
I don't need to finish this today, do I?
We’re late again, aren’t we?
He isn't here, is he?
They need some new clothes, don’t they?
She studies very hard every night, doesn’t she?
I'm in charge of the food, aren't I?
Exception
SIMPLE PAST
Other verbs
Verb "be"
He went to the party last night, didn't he?
It was cold yesterday, wasn't it?
VS
The phone didn't ring, did it?
Mark and Sarah weren't at home yesterday, were they?
It is important to know that the auxiliary verb in the negative question must be contracted.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
James is working on the new project, isn't he?
The children are playing outside, aren´t they?
PAST CONTINUOUS
We were waiting at the station, weren't we?
It was raining that day, wasn't it?
PRESENT PERFECT
Marco has been to Japan, hasn't he?
Your parents have been married for 35 years, haven't they?
PAST PERFECT
He had forgotten his wallet, hadn't he?
Your mum hadn't met me before, had she?
SIMPLE FUTURE
Anna will come at six, won't she?
You won't tell anyone, will you?
MODAL VERBS
John shouldn't do that, should he?
You can help me, can't you?
That could be possible, couldn't that?
ANSWERING TAG QUESTIONS
The form of your answer depends on whether you agree or disagree with the question.
It's not cold outside, is it? No, it's not.
The person responding agrees that it is not cold. The statement and response are both negative.
It's warm outside, isn't it? Yes, it is.
The person responding agrees that it is warm. The statement and response are both positive.
If you disagree, the response is in the same format at the question tag. When you disagree, it is common to add more information to your response.
It's not cold outside, is it? Yes, it is. You should wear a coat.
The person disagrees with the statement it's not cold. The question tag and response are both positive.
We are leaving at 3:00, aren't we? No, we're not. We're leaving at 2:00.
Thank you!