Tag Questions

Марванова Елена Раисовна учитель английского языка ГБОУ № 1455 г.Москвы

It’s a tag question,isn’t it ? Yes, it is.

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question.

You speak English, don’t you?

This is a lovely town, isn't it?

The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag".

A "tag" is something small that we add to something larger. For example, the little piece of cloth added to a shirt showing size or washing instructions is a tag.

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Main points:• You use statements with tags to show reactions, to ask for information. Sasha has been to Great Britain before, hasn’t he? • You can use negative statement with positive question tag to make requests.

You can’t help me, can you?

• You use some questions tags to make imperative more polite.

You won’t be late, will you?

Question tag: uses

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Main points:• You add a question tag to a statement to turn it into question.

• A question tag consists of a verb & a pronoun. The verb in question tag is always an auxiliary, a modal or a form of the main verb ‘to be’ do / don’t , did / didn’t , will / won’t , have/ haven’t , can / can’t, is / isn’t, are / aren’t, ect

• With a positive statement, you usually use a negative question tag containing a short form ending in “n’t”

• With a negative statement, you always use a positive question tag.

Question tag: forms

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Question tag: forms

Statements with negative adverbs

The adverbs never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and scarcely have a negative sense. Even though they are in a positive statement, the feeling of the statement is negative. We treat statements with these words like negative statements, so the question tag is normally positive.

He never came again, did he? She rarely comes, does she? You hardly ever come late, do you? I barely know you, do I?

You can scarcely expect her to know that, can you? Elena Marvanova

Tag Questions

Tag Questions

Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request. For example, instead of saying * "Where is the police station?" (not very polite), or ** "Do you know where the police station is?" (slightly more polite), we could say: ***"You wouldn't know where the police station is, would you?" Here are some more examples: You don't know of any good jobs, do you? You couldn't help me with my homework, could you?

You haven't got $10 to lend me, have you?

Be polite:

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Responses to tag questions:

Responses to tag questions may be given in the form of short "yes" or "no" answers or in the form of full statements.

Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation, the answer may be negative.

- Ann was in England a year ago, wasn't you? - Yes, she was. / No, she wasn’t. - Nick doesn’t go to school on Saturdays, does he? - No, he doesn’t. / Yes, he does.

Tag QuestionsSome more special cases:

Elena Marvanova

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Here are some mixed examples:

* But you don't really love her, do you? * This will work, won't it? * Well, I couldn't help it, could I? * But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you? * We'd never have known, would we? * The weather's bad, isn't it? * Tom won't be late, will he?

* Nobody knows, do they?

Tag Questions

We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer:

Intonation, pronunciation:

Use falling intonation in the first part and rising or falling intonation in the second part of the tag question.

Tag QuestionsIntonation, pronunciation:Ex.1 Real question.

Practise saying these sentences and question tags with rising intonation on the question tag. You can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or to check your

intonation. You couldn't lend me twenty pounds, could you?

You don't know if Peter is here, do you?

They are going to get married, aren't they?

You aren't going out in this terrible weather, are you?

We don't have to go now, do we?

She's from Canada, isn't she?

You haven't seen Peter today, have you?

I could finish this later, couldn't I?

Tag QuestionsIntonation, pronunciation:Ex.2 Checking information or making conversation

Practise saying these sentences and tag questions with falling intonation on the question tag. You can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or to check your

intonation. . This is a lovely town, isn't it?

The weather last night was terrible, wasn't it?

They can't sing at all, can they?

We'll never be able to eat all that pizza, will we?

She hates him, doesn't she?

She's a wonderful woman, isn't she?

The shops are open late tonight, aren't they?

We shouldn't leave the party too early, should we?

It is an interesting programme, …?

He will stay with his family, …?

There is not a local school in this street, …?

She is responsible for the tickets, …?

They always arrange a school party, …?

He can’t bring an invitation letter, …?

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Let’s do next exercise:

isn’t it?

won’t he?

is there?

isn’t she?

don’t they?

can he?

Match next question tags

Tag Questions

Mix & Match, please

Tag Questions

Tag QuestionsMatch up the answers.

You wanted that, .......... ? a) would you b) didn’t you c) aren’t you d) do you You know that's right .......... ? a) aren’t you b) didn’t you c) won’t you d) do you He wil be coming .......... ? a) will you b) didn’t you c) won’t you d) don’t you You won't report me, .......... ? a) won’t you b) did you c) will you d) do you Be quiet for a moment, a) will you b) don’t you c) won’t you d) do you Ann has never been in London, ……..?a)isn’t she b) was she c) has she d) hasn’t she

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Tag QuestionsAdd the tags, please

Tag QuestionsComplete the questions & the answers.

didn’t they

No, I shouldn’t

does she?

No, he won’t can’t she ?

No, I haven’t

should you ?

No, she doesn’t

Yes, he has

have you?

hasn’t he? Yes, they did.

wouldn’t you?

couldn’t we ?

will the?

Yes, I would.

Yes, she can.

Yes, we could.

Examples with positive statements:

Tag Questions

Elena Marvanova

Examples with positive statements:

Tag QuestionsLinks & resources

REASOURCES & LINKS: Enjoy English 5th by M. Biboletova “Titul”, Moscow. Collins Cobuild Student’s Grammar. Practice materials

by Dave Willis. Harper Collins Publishers. www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish ( intonation,

pronunciation) www.englishclub.com ( explanation) www.esl-galaxy.com (board game) www.headsupenglish.com ( explanation) www.shutterstock.com ( images) www.englishgramarsecrets.com ( exercises) PowerPoint presentation (of my own )