ENGLISH GRAMMAR

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

QUESTION TAGS

            Question tag is a short question added to the end of a positive or negative statement. Question tags are used for confirm or check information that we think is true, or to confirm or check information we not sure it’s true, or to asking for agreement, request, or support some expression. The statement and the tag are always separated by a comma. Sometimes we used it to make an effect or to make a strong point of something. So, question tags must be used properly and the right situation. The examples of question tags are:

She can be a good leader, can’t she?

He will not come this afternoon, will he?

They have to do this task, haven’t they?

We must go to that village, mustn’t we?

You would do this homework, wouldn’t you?

You want to come with me, don’t you?

How To Form A Question Tags

Question tag made up by auxiliary verb and subject. Normally a positive statement is followed by a negative tag, and a negative statement is followed by a positive tag.

Positive: They are Indonesians, aren’t they?

               He makes a delicious cake, doesn’t he?

               You buy this pretty flower, don’t you?

Negative: She doesn’t read this novel, does she?

                You didn’t do this homework, did you?

                 We mustn’t stay at this place, must we?       

If the verb used in the statement is an auxiliary verb, then the verb used in the tag must match it. If a modal (can, could, will, should, etc.) is used in the statement, then the same modal is used in the tag part. If the statement doesn't use an auxilliary verb, then the auxiliary do is used in the tag part.

 (with auxiliaries)

You’ve got an A in math, haven’t you? (“have” is an auxiliary)

She’s a writer, isn’t she? (“is” is an auxiliary)

He did this project, didn’t he? (“did” is an auxiliary)

They will join this club, won’t they? (“will” is an auxiliary)

(without auxiliaries)

They watch “Eclipse” on Sunday, don’t they?

He breaks this chair, doesn’t he?

They eat my candies, don’t they?

They played this game yesterday, didn’t they?

Question tags are used to keep a conversation going. You can agree or refuse to a sentence with a question tag

-You go to school, don’t you?

Expressing Agreement            Refusing

Yes, I do                                  No, I don’t

-You aren’t from France, are you?

Expressing Agreement            Refusing

Yes, I am                                 No, I’m not

-They bought this food, didn’t they?

Expressing Agreement            Refusing

Yes, they did                            No, they didn’t

Questions tags - Special

Although the negative word “not” is not in the sentence, the sentence can be negative. Then we use the "positive" question tag. A positive question tag is used if the main clause contains a negative word, such as: no, nobody, nowhere, little, hardly, and never.

Example : She never reads this book, does she? (“Never” means the sentence is negative although there is no “not” in it, so we use positive question tag)

Nobody came, did they?

He would hardly remember anything?

We use will/would with Simple Present

Open the window, will you?

Take your jacket, would you?

We use won’t with a polite request

Bring your laptop, won’t you?

Cook me a bowl of soup, won’t you? 

Come to my place at 4 pm, won’t you?

We use “shall” after “Let’s”

Let’s take the next bus, shall we?

Let’s do this grammar task, shall we?

Auxiliary “Must”

We must be at home at 8 pm, mustn't we?

Ijal must be very mad, mustn’t he?

Use Question Tags with Intonation

You can tell which function is being used by the voice - when the voice goes down it's checking expected information - when the voice goes up it's really asking a question.

 For example:

- Intonation going down

-You haven't finished yet, have you? (Means the first person expect the second persony haven't finished, He’s just checking)

-First person : You're really busy now, aren't you?

-Second person : Yes, I've got to finish this task by Monday.

(Means that the first person confirming the second person busy now, and possibly showing sympathy too) 

- Intonation going up

You made this beautiful pictures, didn’t you? (Means the first person really asking if the second person making that beautiful pictures or not. If the second person is really did that, so its surprising)

Negative sentences with positive tags are often used for requests, for example:
- You won’t stay here for 4 hours, will you?
- You couldn't lend me a $5, could you?

We can try to be sarcastic by using question tags:

It is possible for a positive statement to be followed by a positive tag for even more effect like for sarcasm

You think you’re funny, do you? (Means we trying to say to someone that he’s not funny in a sarcastic way)