QUESTION TAGS

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

2

USE

• Use question tags in speech and informal writing to check information or ask for agreement.

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

3

FORM

• We usually put negative question tags after affirmative sentences and affirmative tags after negative sentences.

e.g. It’s warm today, isn’t it?

He doesn’t like me, does he?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

4

Auxiliary verbs

• If the main sentence has an auxiliary verbauxiliary verb, e.g. is, can, etc, this is repeated in the question tag (opposite form).

e.g. You can’t play tennis this evening, can

you?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

5

No auxiliary verb

• If the main sentence has no auxiliaryno auxiliary, the question tag is a form of the verb do.

e.g.

They went to Australia last Christmas, didn’t they?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

6

Intonation

• In speech, use intonation to show the meaning of the question tag.

• If the tag is a real question (we want to know something and are not sure about the answer), use a rising intonation .

• If the tag is not a real question (we already think we know the answer), use a falling intonation.

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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“I am …”

• The question tag for I am is aren’t I.e.g. I’m wrong, aren’t I?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

8

Imperatives

• After imperatives we often use won’t you? to invite people to do things.

e.g. Have a seat, won’t you?

• After let’s use shall we?e.g. Let’s walk along the beach, shall we?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Negatives

• After negative words like never, no, hardly, etc. we use an affirmative question tag.

e.g. You never want to go out to clubs, do

you?• After nothing we use it in the question tag.e.g. Nothing happened, did it?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Nobody, somebody, everybody

• After nobody, somebody, everybody we use they in question tags.

e.g. Nobody wants to go out tonight, do they?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Exercise 1: complete the sentences.

• I’m too late, I?• Help yourself to a coffee, you?• Let’s get a sandwich, we?• You never go to the theatre, you?• Nothing went wrong today, it?• Nobody has complained, they?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Exercise 2 Complete the sentences.1. She’s getting very tall,

…?2. They don’t seem to like

their present, …?3. You haven’t been

waiting long, …?4. We can’t leave the party

early, …?5. Let’s go and see a film,

…?

Listen and check your answers.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Exercise 31. She’s getting very tall,

isn’t she?2. They don’t seem to like

their present, do they?3. You haven’t been

waiting long, have you?4. We can’t leave the party

early, can we?5. Let’s go and see a film,

shall we?6. Do sit down, won’t you?

Decide whether each sentence is a, b, c or d. Use the arrows.

a) checking informationb) asking for agreementc) asking someone to do

somethingd) making an offer or a

suggestion

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Exercise 4Match the question tags with the

sentences.

1. Everything will be OK,2. Have some more dessert,3. I’m talking too much,4. We don’t have much time, 5. Somebody’s moved the

desk,6. That’s the law, 7. There’s hardly any bread left, 8. Let’s make a fire,

A.B. C.D.E.

F.G.H.

do we?is there?shall we?

haven’t they?isn’t it?

won’t it?aren’t I?

won’t you?

Adapted by Elena Diaconescu Total English, Upper-Int.

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Person to person

• Write one or two facts you think you know about three other students in class.

• Check your facts by asking the person, using an appropriate question tag.