Tag-Questions

 A question added to a declarative sentence, usually at the 
end, to engage the listener, verify that something has 
been understood, or confirm that an action has occurred.

A tag question is used at the end of a Statement Sentence to

get the confirmation from the listener, or just to express
one’s doubt.
A question sentence, on the contrary, is used to get the
answer.
 Tag-Questions

 You are my student. Statement Sentence positive

 You are not my student. Statement negative
 Are you my student? Question (interrogative)

 You are my student, aren’t you? Tag-question

 Tag-Questions

 Whose books are these? – a true question

 These are your books, aren’t they?

-Tag-question – Positive
These are not your books, are they?
- Tag-question -- Negative
 Tag-Questions

 Making a tag-question sentence:

 She is your friend,

isn’t she?
A positive tag-question sentence!
 Tag-Questions
 There are five simple points we should
follow when we use a Tag-question:
 Point 1

 A comma is used between the main

sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g.
 This is your book isn’t it?
Tag-
Questions
 Tag-
Questions
 Point 2 (continued)

 Suresh has gone home, hasn’t ?

‘suresh’ – proper noun – male – singular
he
pronoun – male – singular – subjective case
 Tag-Question

 Point 2 (continued)

 Ajay and Swetha got their books, didn’t ?

‘Ajay and Swetha’ – Proper nouns – male – plural
they
Personal Pronoun – male -- plural
 Tag-
 Point 3
Questions
 The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb in the
main sentence:
 If the verb in the main sentence is in Present Tense,
the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Present Tense;
and the verb in the main sentence is in Past Tense,
the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Past, and so on.
 If the verb in the main sentence is in Positive form,
the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in Negative form.
 Tag-Questions

 Point 3 (continued)
 She is your sister, she?
“is” – main verb – Simple Present Tense –POSITIVE

isn’t
– Simple present tense – NEGATIVE
 Tag-
Questions
 Point 3 (continued)

 Suresh hasn’t done his work, he?

‘hasn’t’ – Present perfect – NEGATIVE
has
Present perfect -- POSITIVE
 Tag-Questions
 Point 3 (continued)
 Ajay goes to school, he?
‘goes’ – Simple present – POSITIVE
‘does not go’ – Simple present – NEGATIVE
doesn’t
Point 4
The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part is
always contracted:
does not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = won’t
 Tag-questions

 Point 3 (continued)

 Suresh did not go to school, he?

‘did not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVE
‘go’ – Simple past – Positive; however, in
‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb
alone is used:
did
 Tag-questions

• Point 5 -- Word order

• In the statement sentence (in the main

sentence) the subject comes first and the
verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ part, the
verb comes first and the subject comes next,
just as in the interrogative sentence
 Tag-Question
 Point 5 – word order (continued)
For example:
A woman fainted, didn’t she?

Main sentence
‘tag’ part
Subject first; verb next
Verb first; subject next
amn’t
I ? ’t
e n
r
A I? WILL
NOT
Say let’s …
If both are in same
mood
For urgency…

Always ask