TAG QUESTIONS

Tag questions are used in speech and informal writing. They are used to start small talk or
confirm information.

Affirmative sentences are usually put before negative sentences.

a) It’s cold today, isn’t it?

b) He doesn’t like pizza, does he?

If there is an auxiliary verb, such as can, is, are, etc., it will be repeated in the tag
question.

a) You can’t play basketball, can you?

If there is no auxiliary, the tag question is a form of the verb do.

a) They went to Brazil last month, didn’t they?

The tag question for am is aren’t.

a) I’m right, aren’t I?

After negative words like never, do, hardly, etc., use an affirmative tag question.

a) You never want to go out to walk, do you?

Use it after nothing.

a) Nothing occurred, did it?

Use they after somebody, everybody, nobody.

Nobody wants to play soccer, do they?

Practice Tag questions:

1. I’m early, _________?

2. You never go to the park, _____________?

3. Nothing happened tonight, ______________?

4. Nobody has arrived, have ____________?

 ANY / EVERY / NO / SOME

Any looks at things one at a time. Every looks at things together.

a) Don’t you have anything to eat?

b) There’s enough tacos for everyone?

Any = doesn’t matter

a) Which car should I buy? – It doesn’t matter. Anyone is fine.

Anything = nothing

There’s nothing in the refrigerator.

MODAL OF SPECULATION

Could, May, Might = future possibility

a) I could go to the party.

b) I may go to the party.
c) I might go to the party.

Can = general possibility

The party can get canceled.

Must = something is certain

I must go to the party.

Can’t = not possible

I can’t go to the party.

VOCABULARY

Acquaintance Art / artistic Professional

Make a good impression Loneliness / lonely Job
To click with someone Success / successful Work
Have a lot in common Skill / skillful Outsource
Co-worker Jealousy / jealous Business
Close friend Responsibility / responsible Message
Best friend Importance / important Long distance
Partner Frustration / frustrated Texting
Colleague Personality