Supplementary Material

CONFIRMING INFORMATION
(Supplementary Material for Intermediate Module)
When speaking, we sometimes need to confirm some ideas. In English, we use certain phrases called
«question tags» that we place after the information we need to confirm. This style is common in conversational
as well as in informal written language. Consider the following examples:

He is here, isn’t he?

He isn’t here, is he?

As you can see, if the part we want to confirm contains a verb in the affirmative form, then the question tag must
take the negative form. Similarly, if the verb is in the negative, then the question tag must be in the affirmative form.
Study how to make the tags in the different verbal tenses:

Present continuous: She is studying, isn’t she?

They aren’t coming, are they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «is / isn’t
- are / aren’t». See note 3 for personal pronoun «I».

Simple present with the verb «to be»: You are tired, aren’t you?
They aren’t very nice, are they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «is / isn’t
- are / aren’t».

Simple present tense: They go to school in the morning, don’t they?

You don’t have a car, do you?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «do / don’t
- does / doesn’t».

Present perfect tense: He has finished the book, hasn’t he?

She hasn’t taken the subway, has she?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «has /
hasn’t - have / haven’t».

Simple past tense with the verb «to be»: He was very angry, wasn’t he?
They weren’t ready, were they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «was /
wasn’t - were / weren’t».

Simple past tense: We bought some milk, didn’t we?

You didn’t travel last month, did you?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «did /
didn’t».

Past perfect tense: She had lived in Russia before moving, hadn’t she?
They hadn’t bought the tickets before, had they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «had /
hadn’t».

Future tense: You will buy the house, won’t you?

They won’t call you today, will they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «will /
won’t».

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Conditional: She would like a new coat, wouldn’t she?
They wouldn’t go out, would they?
* The question tag is always made with the forms «would /
wouldn’t».

Sentences with modal verbs: He should see a doctor, shouldn’t he?

They can’t do it without you, can they?
She must read this novel, mustn’t she?

Question tags are difficult to learn because you need to remember :

- the person who does the action and conjugate the verb «to be» accordingly.
- to use the negative if the main verb is in the affirmative and viceversa.
- that the subject is always the same in both the main sentence and the question tag.

Notes:
1. There are no question tags for modal verbs «may» and «might».

2. The question tag corresponding to modal verb «ought to» is «oughtn’t you, she, they», etc., but this
modal verb is becoming very rare, so we won’t consider it.

3. When speaking in the first person (using the pronoun «I»), it is possible to ask for confirmation. In this
case, we follow the same rules outlined above. If this happens in the simple present tense with the verb
«to be», then the question tags are «am I?» for negative statements and «aren’t I?» for affirmative
statements. Consider the following examples:

I shouldn’t enter that place, should I?

I can eat anything I want, can’t I?
I have a lot of money in my bank account, don’t I?
I am a very nice person, aren’t I?
I didn’t arrive late, did I?
I am not driving too fast, am I?

4. Question tags are not only used with people, as the following examples show:
This car isn’t very fast, is it?
The old church stood right here, didn’t it?
All stores will be closed tomorrow, won’t they?
The plane has already arrived, hasn’t it?
The elevators are being repaired, aren’t they?

5. Sentences with «there is / there are» form their questions tags with «isn’t there / aren’t there?»
Sentences with «there isn’t / there aren’t» form their question tags with «is there / are there?»
There isn’t any wine left, is there?
There are many students at Tronwell, aren’t there?

EXERCISE 1. Complete the following sentences adding the appropiate question tag.

1. You broke the window, ?

2. They didn't see you, ?

3. My mother cooks very well, ?

4. He can do that for you, ?

5. They should have been able to do it, ?

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6. He used to live in Madrid, ?

7. You would like to come with us, ?

8. He hadn't met you before, ?

9. This street runs north and south, ?

10. He isn’t very friendly, ?

EXERCISE 2. Write sentences to match the question tags provided.

1. , would you?

2. , isn't he?

3. , can't you?

4. , mustn't they?

5. , had he?

6. , wouldn't she?

7. , should you?

8. , were they?

9. , am I?

10. , will we?

EXERCISE 3. Match the sentences in column A with the corresponding tags in column B.

A B
1. You won't forget our appointment, a. mustn’t she?

2. Mary couldn't arrive earlier yesterday, b. shouldn't you?

3. John didn't say so, c. will you?

4. They have some good news for you, d. is there?

5. You can trust her to do the job, e. does she?

6. You should hurry if you want to catch your train, f. didn’t it?

7. He hasn’t arrived yet, g. aren’t I?

8. She must finish her homework before going out, h. do they?

9. We were feeling tired, i. can't you?

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10. She doesn’t believe his excuse, j. weren’t we?

11. I am a very important person, k. don’t they?

12. The bomb exploded inside the bank, l. could she?

13. They never turn off the TV before going to sleep, m. has he?

14. There isn’t any milk left in the refrigerator, n. did he?

EXERCISE 4. Build a sentence with the words given in parentheses. Write the corresponding tag.

1. (Pedro / speak / English / well)

, ?

2. (They / will / enjoy / the party)

, ?

3. (The pizza / be delivered / at ten o'clock)

, ?

4. (Your aunt / visit / you / yesterday)

, ?

5. (We / go / to a disco / next Saturday)

, ?

6. (Your father / have taken / the medicine / today)

, ?

7. (Sally / be waiting / us / at midnight)

, ?

8. (Mary / look for / job / this Monday)

, ?

9. (Their parents / have traveled / abroad)

, ?

KEY-CHECK

EXERCISE 1 EXERCISE 3
1. didn't you 6. didn’t he 1. c 6. b 11. g
2. did they 7. wouldn’t you 2. l 7. m 12. f
3. doesn't she 8. had he 3. n 8. a 13. h
4. can't he 9. doesn’t it 4. k 9. j 14. d
5. shouldn't they 10. is he 5. i 10. e

EXERCISE 2 EXERCISE 4
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS WITH YOUR LAB TEACHERS. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS WITH YOUR LAB TEACHERS.