ENGLISH CLASS

Question
tags

By: Miss Fátima Cruz Díaz

 Question tags are more common in
speaking than writing.
We often use question tags when
we expect the listener to agree
with our statement.
GRAMMAR
EXPLANATION
isn't it?

can you?

Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz

didn't they?
EXAMPLES
You eat meat, don’t you? PRESENT SIMPLE

She doesn’t like to dance, does she? PRESENT SIMPLE

Alex and Sergio are friends, aren’t they? PRESENT SIMPLE

You haven't seen this film, have you? PRESENT PERFECT

Your sister lives in Spain, doesn't she? PRESENT SIMPLE

He can't drive, can he? MODAL VERB

Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz

When the statement is positive,
we use a negative question tag.
She's a doctor, isn't she?
Yesterday was so much fun, wasn't it?

If the statement is negative, we

use a positive question tag. GRAMMAR RULES
He isn't here, is he?
The trains are never on time, are they?
Nobody has called for me, have they?
Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz
FORMATION
If there is an auxiliary verb in the
statement, we use it to form the
question tag.
I don't need to finish this today, do I?
James is working on that, isn't he?

If there is no auxiliary verb already

in the statement, so you have to
recognize the grammar tense.
Jenny eats cheese, doesn't she?
Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz
I said that already, didn't I?
 SO THE QUESTION TAG REFERS
TO THE SUBJECT OF THE MAIN
SENTENCE.

YES, VERY OFTEN, BUT SOMETIMES

IT DOESN’T.

I can’t imagine her doing anything else,

can you?

ARE THERE ANY

EXCEPTIONS?
THERE ARE A FEW. WE USE 'AREN’T I' INSTEAD
OF THE MORE LOGICAL 'AMN’T I'.

I’m next in the queue, aren’t I?

Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz
 WHERE IS THE STRESS IN QUESTION
TAGS?
It’s on the verb and the intonation is usually falling, unless the
speaker isn’t sure about some kind of factual information, then
it’s rising.

You’re from Beijing, aren’t you? (falling

intonation = you’re fairly sure)

You’re from Beijing, aren’t you? (rising intonation

= you’re not very sure and want the other person
to confirm the information)
Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz
Lic. Fátima Cruz Díaz
LET'S PRACTICE (PART I)
WRITE THE CORRECT QUESTION TAG TO THESE
SENTENCES

He is late this morning, _____________?

The hotel was quite good, ____________?
She cooks well, ___________________?
You can't tell the difference, __________?
LET'S PRACTICE (PART II)
CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION TO COMPLETE
THESE SENTENCES

She likes quiet places, _____________?

does she?
isn't she?
doesn't she?