Tag Question

Redundancy
Article
Tag Question
A tag question involves an affirmative main clause and a negative tag, or a negative main
clause and an affirmative tag. Negative tags are most commonly used in the contracted
form:

She’s a translator, isn’t she? (affirmative main clause + negative tag)

He hasn’t arrived yet, has he? (negative main clause + affirmative tag)
Tag Question
When we use auxiliary be, do or have, a modal verb or main verb be in the main clause, this verb is
used in the tag.
main clause be, do, have, modal subject pronoun
He’s working as a tour guide, isn’t he?
Your mother was Scottish, wasn’t she?
She plays the piano, doesn’t she?
The shops don’t open till 9.30, do they?
They’ve moved, Haven’t they?
You could sell it on the Internet, couldn’t you?

If there is no auxiliary or modal verb in the main clause, we use auxiliary do, does, did in the
tag:

She dances beautifully, doesn’t she?

The girls wanted to go home, didn’t they?
Tag Question
Exercise:
1. I’m late again, aren’t I?
2. Martin used to live in Oxford, didn’t he?
3. We ought to leave now, shouldn’t we?
4. Turn the TV down, will you?
5. Let’s have lunch now, shall we?
6. He rarely goes to the market, does he?
7. You have a car, don’t you?/ haven’t you?
8. He had to do this, didn’t he?
9. We have to hurry, don’t we?
10. Nothing went wrong, did it?
Redundancy
Redundancy means the repetition of word with the same meaning.

Incorrect: We have sufficient enough money to buy the house.

Correct: We have sufficient money to buy the house.
Incorrect: I think that we should come up with a new innovation for doing this job.
Correct: I think that we should come up with an innovation for doing this job.
Incorrect: She repeated the operation again.
Correct: She repeated the operation.
Redundancy
Exercise: Find out the redundant word, if any, from the following sentences.

1. The twins have the same identical birthmarks on their backs.

2. When the roads became too slippery, we decided to return back to the cabin and wait
for the storm to subside.
3. The mountain climbers proceeded forward on their long trek up the side of the
mountain.
4. My cousins love to play with the two twins from across the street.
5. Let’s not discuss about this.
Redundancy
Exercise:
1. The reason we are late is due to the fact that the bus was delayed by heavy traffic.
A. due to the fact that the bus was delayed by heavy traffic
B. because the bus was delayed by heavy traffic
C. that the bus was delayed by heavy traffic
D. due to the fact that heavy traffic delayed the bus
2. If we cooperate together by dividing up the work, we shall be able to finish quickly.
A. If we cooperate together by dividing up the work
B. If we cooperate by dividing the work
C. If we cooperate by dividing up the work
D. If we cooperate together by dividing the work
3. Because we cooperated together, we divided up the work on the report which had been
assigned.
A. together, we divided up the work on the report which had been assigned.
B. together, we divided the work on the report which had been assigned.
C., we divided up the work on the report which was assigned.
D., we divided the work on the assigned report.
Redundancy
Exercise:
4. The reason that the number of accidents this year is greater than that of last year is because Americans
are uninterested in safety techniques.
A. is greater than that of last year is that
B. is greater than that of last year is because.
C. is greater than last year is because
D. is greater than last year is that

5. The reason I came late to class today is because the bus broke down.
A. I came late to class today is because
B. why I came late to class today is because
C. I was late to school today is because
D. I came late to class today is that

6. If one begins to smoke at an early age, it is likely that he will go on smoking further.
A. it is likely that he will go on smoking further
B. he will probably keep smoking more and more
C. it is hard to stop him from smoking more
D. he is likely to continue smoking
Article
A or an can precede only singular count nouns; they mean one. They can be used in a
general statement or to introduce a subject which has not been previously mentioned.

A student should attend classes regularly. (general- means any student)

I saw a boy in the street. (We don't know which boy)

An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. A is used before words that begin
with a consonant sound.
a book an apple
Some words can be confusing because the spelling does not indicate the pronunciation.
a house (begins with a consonant sound)
an hour (begins with a vowel sound)
Article
We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the listener/reader knows
exactly what we are referring to:

• because there is only one:

The Pope is visiting Russia.
The moon is very bright tonight.

• because there is only one in that context:

We live in a small house next to the church. (= the church in our village)
Dad, can I borrow the car? (= the car that belongs to our family)

• because we have already mentioned it:

I saw a boy in the street. The boy was looking for his mother.
 Article
We also use the definite article
• to say something about all the things referred to by a noun:
The wolf is not really a dangerous animal. (= Wolves are not really dangerous animals.)
The kangaroo is found only in Australia. (= Kangaroos are found only in Australia.)
The heart pumps blood around the body. (= Hearts pump blood around bodies.)
• to refer to a system or service:
How long does it take on the train?
I heard it on the radio.
You should tell the police.
• with adjectives like rich, poor, elderly and unemployed to talk about groups of people:
Life can be very hard for the poor.
I think the rich should pay more taxes.
 Article
We don't usually use any article in expressions with bed, work and home.
go to bed / be in bed
go to work / be at work / start work / finish work
go home / be at home / get home / stay at home
We also don't normally use an article in expressions with school, university, prison and hospital.
start school / go to school / be at school
go to university / be at university
be sent to prison / go to prison / be in prison
go to hospital / be in hospital
But we usually use the if someone is just visiting the place, and not there as a
student/prisoner/patient, etc.
My son has started school now. I went to the school to meet his teacher.
I went to the prison a lot when I was a social worker.
I'm at the hospital. My sister has just had a baby.
Thank You