Câu hỏi đuôi (Tag Question)

I. Định nghĩa
Câu hỏi đuôi là dạng một câu hỏi ngắn, chỉ gồm 2 từ, nằm đằng sau một câu trần thuật.
Vị trí: Câu hỏi đuôi được thêm vào cuối câu khẳng định hoặc phủ định, cả hai vế được
ngăn cách nhau bằng dấu phẩy.
Chức năng: Câu hỏi đuôi được sử dụng khi người nói muốn xác minh xem thông tin là
đúng hay không hoặc khi muốn người nghe hồi đáp về câu trần thuật đó.
Ngữ điệu:
● Nếu người hỏi xuống giọng ở câu hỏi đuôi thì tức là người nói thực sự

không muốn hỏi, mà muốn người nghe xác nhận điều mình nói.
● Nếu người hỏi lên giọng ở câu hỏi đuôi thì tức là người nói muốn hỏi thêm

thông tin từ người nghe.

II. Cấu trúc câu hỏi đuôi - Tag Question

Công thức chung:

S + V + O, trợ động từ + đại từ?

Trong đó:
Đại từ: Lấy chủ ngữ ở câu đầu đổi thành đại từ.
Trợ động từ: Phụ thuộc vào động từ ở câu trước.
Nếu câu trần thuật là thể khẳng định, thì câu hỏi đuôi sẽ là thể phủ định và ngược lại.
Ví dụ: Your mother likes reading newspaper, doesn’t she?
Your mother doesn’t like reading newspaper, does she?

III. Các dạng thường gặp của câu hỏi đuôi

1. Thì hiện tại đơn

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Động từ “to be” S + am/is/are + O, isn’t/ aren’t + S? S + am/is/are + not + O, am/is/are + S?
Ex: Ex:
I am late, aren’t I? I am not late, am I?

He is late, isn’t he? He isn’t late, is he?

Động từ thường S + V + O, don’t/doesn’t + S? S + don’t/doesn’t + V + O, do/does + S?
Ex:
Ex: Tom doesn’t like football, does he?
Tom likes football, doesn’t he

2. Thì hiện tại tiếp diễn

S + am/is/are + V_ing, isn’t/ aren’t + S? S + am/is/are + not + V_ing, am/is/are + S?

Ex: Ex:
It is raining, isn’t it? It isn’t raining, is it?

3. Thì hiện tại hoàn thành

S + have/has + V3/ed, haven’t/ hasn’t + S? S + have/has + not + V3/ed, have/has + S?

Ex: Ex:
Tom has gone out, hasn’t he? Tom hasn’t gone out, has he?

4. Thì quá khứ đơn

Động từ “to be” S + was/were + O, S + was/were + not + O, was/were +

wasn’t/weren’t + S? S?
Ex: Ex:
They were late, weren’t they? They weren’t late, were they?
Động từ thường S + V2/ed + O, didn’t + S? S + didn’t + V + O, did + S?
Ex: Ex:
She had to leave early, didn’t She didn’t have to leave early, did she?
she?

5. Thì tương lai đơn

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 S + will + V_inf, won’t + S? S + will + not + V_inf, will + S?
Ex: Ex:
You’ll be back soon, won’t you? You won’t be back soon, will you?

6. Động từ khiếm khuyết (modal verbs)

S + modal verbs + V_inf, modal verbs + not + S + modal verbs + not + V_inf, modal verbs
S? + S?
Ex: Ex:
The children can swim, can’t they? The children can’t swim, can they?

Chú ý:
Trong câu hỏi đuôi chúng ta luôn luôn dùng các đại từ chủ ngữ (I, he, it, they,..) để đặt
câu hỏi. Nếu là câu hỏi đuôi phủ định chúng ta dùng hình thức tỉnh lượt giữa “not” với
“to be” hoặc với trợ động từ (isn’t, don’t, doesn’t, haven’t, didn’t, can’t, won’t,…)
Ví dụ: Tom was at home, wasn’t he?
Không nói: Wasn’t Tom? hay was not Tom?

IV. Một số trường hợp đặt biệt

1. Đối với động từ "Am"
Chúng ta không dùng “am not I” mà phải dùng “aren’t I” cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: I am wrong, aren’t I?
2. Đối với động từ khiếm khuyết "Must"
Vì “must” có nhiều cách dùng nên tùy theo cách dùng sẽ có câu hỏi đuôi khác nhau.
- Khi “must” chỉ sự cần thiết, ta dùng “needn’t” cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: They must work hard, needn’t they?

- Khi “must” chỉ sự cấm đoán, ta dùng must cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: You mustn’t come late, must you?

- Khi “must” chỉ sự dự đoán ở hiện tại, ta dựa vào động từ theo sau “must”
để chọn động từ cho thích hợp.

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 Ví dụ: She must be a very kind woman, isn’t she?

- Khi “must” chỉ sự dự đoán ở quá khứ (trong công thức “must + have +
V3/ed), ta dùng have/has cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: You must have stolen my wallet, haven’t you?

3. Đối với động từ "Have to"

Với động từ “have/ has/ had to” thì ta dùng trợ động từ “do/ does/ did” cho câu hỏi
đuôi.
Ví dụ: She has to go home, doesn’t she?
He had to go to school yesterday, didn’t he?
4. Đối với động từ "Let"

Khi “Let” đặt đầu câu, căn cứ vào ý nghĩa mà “let” truyền tải trong câu để chọn động
từ phù hợp.
- “Let’s” trong câu gợi ý, rủ rê ai làm việc gì đó cùng mình thì ta dùng “shall
we?” cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: Let’s go, shall we?

Let’s have buttered scones with strawberry jam for tea, shall we?

- “Let” trong câu xin phép (let us/let me) thì ta dùng “will you?” cho câu hỏi
đuôi.

Ví dụ: Let us use the telephone, will you?

Let me have some drink, will you?

- "Let" trong câu đề nghị giúp người khác (let me), dùng "may I?"

Ví dụ: Let me help you do it, may I?

5. Đối với câu mệnh lệnh

Câu mệnh lệnh được dùng để diễn đạt ý muốn ai đó nghe theo lời khuyên của mình.
- Diễn tả lời mời thì ta dùng “won't you” cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: Drink some coffee, won’t you?

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 - Diễn tả sự nhờ vả thì ta dùng “will you” cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: Take it away now, will you?

- Diễn tả sự ra lệnh thì ta dùng “can/ could/ would you” cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: Go out, can’t you?

- Đối với câu mệnh lệnh phủ định chỉ được dùng “will you” cho câu hỏi
đuôi.

Ví dụ: Don’t marry her, will you?

6. Đối với câu có đại từ bất định chỉ người

Khi chủ ngữ của câu là những đại từ bất định chỉ người như: Anyone, anybody, no
one, nobody, none, everybody, everyone, somebody, someone thì chúng ta dùng đại từ
“they” làm chủ từ trong câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: Someone had recognized him, hadn’t they?
Tuy nhiên, nếu chủ ngữ là những đại từ mang tính phủ định như no one, nobody, none
thì phần câu hỏi đuôi sẽ ở thể khẳng định.
Ví dụ: Nobody remembered my date of birth, did they?
7. Đối với câu có đại từ bất định chỉ vật
Khi chủ ngữ của câu là những đại từ bất định chỉ vật như: Nothing, something,
everything thì chúng ta dùng đại từ “it” làm chủ từ trong câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: Everything is okay, isn’t it?
Tuy nhiên, nếu chủ ngữ là những đại từ mang tính phủ định như nothing thì phần câu
hỏi đuôi sẽ ở thể khẳng định.
Ví dụ: Nothing was said, was it?
8. Đối với câu có chủ ngữ mang tính chất phủ định
Những câu trần thuật có chứa các từ như: Neither, none, no one, nobody, nothing,
scarcely, barely, hardly, hardly ever, seldom thì phần câu hỏi đuôi sẽ ở thể khẳng
định.
Ví dụ: Peter hardly ever goes to parties, does he?
9. Đối với câu cảm thán

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Khi mệnh đề chính là một câu cảm thán, ta lấy danh từ trong câu đổi thành đại từ,
đồng thời dùng động từ là: Is, are, am.
Ví dụ: What a beautiful day, isn’t it?
10. Đối với câu có chủ ngữ là "One"
Khi chủ ngữ chính trong mệnh đề chính là “one”, ở câu hỏi đuôi dùng “you” hoặc
“one”.
Ví dụ: One can be one’s master, can’t one/you?
11. Đối với câu có "used to"
Khi câu đầu sử dụng động từ “used to” để diễn tả thói quen, hành động thường lặp đi
lặp lại trong quá khứ, ta xem “used to” là một động từ chia ở thì quá khứ. Do đó câu
hỏi đuôi tương ứng chỉ cần mượn trợ động từ “did”.
Ví dụ: She used to live here, didn’t she?
12. Đối với câu có "Had better"
Khi cầu đầu sử dụng động từ “had better”, ta mượn trợ động từ “had” để lập câu hỏi
đuôi.
Ví dụ: He had better stay, hadn’t he?
13. Đối với câu có "Would rather"
Khi cầu đầu sử dụng động từ “would rather”, ta mượn trợ động từ “would” để lập câu
hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: You would rather go, wouldn’t you?

14. Đối với cấu trúc "I think"

Khi mệnh đề chính có cấu trúc:

I + think/ believe/ suppose/ figure/ assume/ fancy/ imagine/ reckon/ expect/
see/ + mệnh đề phụ
Ta dùng động từ trong mệnh đề phụ để xác định động từ cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: I think he will come here, won’t he?
Lưu ý: Dù “not” nằm ở mệnh đề chính, nhưng tính chất phủ định có ảnh hưởng đến cả
câu nên vẫn tính như ở mệnh đề phụ.

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 Ví dụ: I don’t believe Mary can do it, can she?

Cũng mẫu cấu trúc này nhưng nếu chủ từ không phải là “I” thì dùng động từ chính
trong câu (think/ believe/ suppose/…) để xác định động từ cho câu hỏi đuôi.

Ví dụ: She thinks he will come, doesn’t she?

15. Đối với câu điều ước Wish

Khi mệnh đề chính dùng “wish”, ta dùng “may” cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: I wish to meet the doctor, may I?
16. Đối với mệnh đề danh từ
Khi chủ ngữ là một mệnh đề danh từ, ta dùng “it” cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: What you have said is wrong, isn’t it?
17. Đối với chủ ngữ this/ that
This/ that được thay bằng it cho câu hỏi đuôi.
Ví dụ: This is your wife, isn’t it?

V. Bài tập?
EXERCISE I: Add tag questions to the following.
1. Lan enjoys watching TV after dinner, ............?
2. Tam didn't go to school yesterday, ........?
3. They'll buy a new computer, .........?
4. She can drink lots of tomato juice every day, .............?
5. She may not come to class today, .............?
6. We should follow the traffic rules strictly, .............?
7. Your mother has read these fairy tales for you many times, . .............?
8. He seldom visits you, .............?
9. You've never been in Italy, . .............?
10. That's Bob, .............?
11. No-one died in the accident, .............?
12. I'm supposed to be here, .............?
13. Nothing is wrong.............?
14. Nobody called the phone, .............?
15. Everything is okay, .............?

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16. Everyone took a rest, .............?
17. Going swimming in the summer is never boring, .............?
18. Let's dance together, .............?
19. Don't talk in class, .............?
20. Sit down, .............?
21. This picture is yours, .............?
22. Hoa never comes to school late, .............?
23. You took some photos on the beach, . .............?
24. He hardly ever makes a mistake, .............?

EXERCISE II: Add tag questions to the following.

1. They want to come,......................?
2. Elizabeth is a dentist, ....................?
3. They won't be here, .....................?
4. That is your umbrella, ......................?
5. There aren't many people here yet, .................?
6. He has a bicycle,........................?
7. Peter would like to come with us to the party, ..........................?
8. Those aren't Fred's books, .........?
9. You have never been to Paris,............?
10. Something is wrong with Jane today, ............?
11. Everyone can learn how to swim, ..................?
12. Nobody cheated in the exam, .......................?
13. Nothing went wrong while I was gone, ............?
14. I am invited, ......................?
15. This bridge is not very safe,.................?
16. These sausages are delicious, ................?
17. You haven't lived here long, ............?
18. The weather forecast wasn't very good, ................?
19. He'd better come to see me, ..............?
20. You need to stay longer, ................................?
EXERCISE III: Add tag questions to the following.
1. You don't know where Ann is, ..............?
2. They haven't seen this film, .................?
3. You wouldn't tell anyone about it, ...............?
4. He'd never seen you before,...................?
5. Let's go out for a walk, .......................?

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6. This is your book,..................?
7. I am supposed to be here, .............?
8. There is a meeting tonight, ........................?
9. Tom won't be here late, ....................................?
10. You 're tired,............................?
11. You haven't lived here long, ..................?
12. You came in a sports car, ...........................?
13. These cakes look good, ...........................?
14. You can speak German, .......................?
15. You couldn't do me a favor, ...................?
Exercise IV. Điền câu hỏi đuôi thích hợp.
1. She is collecting stickers, ________?
2. We often watch TV in the afternoon, ________?
3. You have cleaned your bike, ________?
4. John and Max don't like Maths, ________?
5. Peter played handball yesterday, ________?
6. They are going home from school, ________?
7. Mary didn't do her homework last Monday, ________?
8. He could have bought a new car, _______?
9. Kevin will come tonight, ________?
10. I'm clever, ________?
11. He's not coming, _______?
12. I'm not late, ________?
13. The bank lent him the money, _______?
14. You shouldn't do that, _______?
15. You don't take sugar in coffee, _______?
16. She looks tired, _______?
17. There's a cinema near the station, _______?
18. He arrived late, _______?
19. Nobody has arrived yet, _______?
20. It's time to go, ________?
21. I'm right, ________?
22. You had seen it before, ________?
23. Everybody looked so miserable, ________?
24. You wouldn't do that, _______?
25. He'll be there, _______?
26. Everybody will be there, _______?

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27. She's had too much to do lately, _______?
28. It won't happen, _______?
29. They should be here soon, _______?
30. I'm not intruding, _______?
31. Nobody's got to leave early, _______?
32. That dog's very noisy, _______?
33. You have got to arrive before half past eight, _______?
34. They took it, _______?
35. That's the shop where you used to work, ________?
36. The book's a best-seller, _______?
37. You haven't got a sister, _______?
38. I'm in trouble, _______?
39. You would tell me if you knew, _______?
40. You'd rather not tell me, _______?
41. Lima is the capital of Peru, ________?
42. He'd better try harder, _______?
43. There's nothing on TV tonight, _______?
44. That's the guy who was on TV the other night, _______?
45. That's the guy that won the pools, ________?
46. She won't be here for another hour, _______?
47. Mr McGuinness is from Ireland, _______?
48. The car isn't in the garage, ________?
49. You are John, _______?
50. She went to the library yesterday, _______?
51. He didn't recognize me, _______?
52. Cars pollute the environment, _______?
53. Mr. Pritchard has been to Scotland recently, _______?
54. The trip is very expensive, _______?
55. He won't tell her, ________?
56. He sometimes reads the newspaper, _______?
57. You are Indian, _______?
58. Peggy didn't use the pencil, _______?
59. Mary has answered the teacher's question, _______?
60. The boy is from Turkey, _______?
61. Sue wasn't listening,______________?
62. Andrew isn't sleeping, _______?
63. Tom and Maria will arrive at Heathrow, _______?

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64. He's been to Texas, _______?
65. Dogs like meat, _______?
66. There are some apples left, _______?
67. I'm late, _______?
68. Let's go, _______?
69. Don't smoke, _______?
70. He does sing in the bathroom, _______?
71. He'll never know, _______?
72. I think, he's from India, _______?
73. Lovely day today, _______?
74. She is collecting stickers, _______?
75. We often watch TV in the afternoon, _______?
76. You have cleaned your bike, _______?
77. John and Max don't like Maths, _______?
78. Peter played handball yesterday, _______?
79. They are going home from school, _______?
80. Mary didn't do her homework last Monday, _______?
81. He could have bought a new car, _______?
82. Kevin will come tonight, _______?
83. I'm clever, _______?
84. Murat gets up late, _______?
85. You didn't go to school yesterday, ________?
86. I am not a nurse, _______?
87. She doesn't cook well, _______?
88. You can speak English, _______?
89. I am your best friend, ________?
90. The sun is shining, ________?
91. They haven't seen him for ages, ________?
92. She visited her grandmother, ________?
93. Susan and Peter arrived late yesterday, ________?
94. She wasn't there, ________?
95. Sheila has gone to the supermarket, ________?
96. I will help you, _______?
97. You shouldn't do that, _______?
98. The thief was arrested yesterday, _______?
99. The computer is broken, _______?
100. Our English teacher is very nice, _______?

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101. I am a doctor, ________?
102. Susan caught the bus, _______?
103. They drew an elephant, _______?
104. The student didn't do the homework, ________?
105. Let's have a drink, ________?
106. Your car is not cheap, _______?
107. Lisa has lost her ID, _______?
108. You couldn't help me, _______?
109. We are friends, ________?
110. You weren't at the party last night, _______?
111. Shout up, _______?
112. There is a museum in this city, _______?
113. Good idea, _______?
114. You have never been to Peking, ________?
115. You must give up smoking, ________?
116. I didn't do anything wrong, ________?
117. No one can help you, ________?
118. They helped us a lot, _______?
119. Don't do it, _______?
120. Get out of my sight, _______?
121. Dave is your cousin, ________?
122. Kiki doesn't write a letter before bed?
123. Jenny and Natalie are the members of the Photography Club, _______?
124. You can swim very well, _______?
125. She draws a beautiful picture, ________?
126. We came home late last night, _______?
127. Henry and Ricky read a lot of books, ________?
128. We played football last night, _______?
129. You didn't see me, ________?
130. He sells toys, ________?
131. They don't like cats, ________?
132. She loves flowers, ________?
133. You are a student, _______?
134. Jane can't swim, ________?
135. They mustn't buy the car, ________?
136. Billy has made a beautiful kite, ________?
137. You won't trust him, ________?

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138. Kathy and YoYo will go to the swimming pool tomorrow, ________?
139. Mrs. White ate a lot of fish yesterday, ________?
140. Ken didn't visit his grandfather last week, _______?
141. You don't like fishing, ________?
142. Fiona likes Jacky Chan, ________?
143. She must come to the party, _______?
144. Lucy will buy the dress, ________?
145. Mimi and Lily were sad yesterday, ________?
146. Kate always sleeps early, ________?
147. He won't be happy, _______?
148. You didn't do homework yesterday, _______?
149. We kept some money under the bed, ________?
150. It seldom barks, ________?
151. Michael and Melody often go home late, ________?
152. Hugh had a red car, ________?
153. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Park is in Keystone, _______?
154. The rock was a sacred Indian site once, _______?
155. It has been a national memorial since 1925, _______?
156. The monument doesn't show the bust of President Clinton, _______?
157. George Washington was the first President of the United States, _______?
158. The car isn't in the garage, _______?
159. You are John, _______?
160. She went to the library yesterday, _______?
Exercise 5: Add tag questions to the following.
1. We should call Rita, _______________?
A. should we B. shouldn’t we C. shall we D. should not we
2. Monkeys can’t sing, ______________?
A. can they B. can it C. can’t they D. can’t it
3. These books aren’t yours, ____________?
A. are these B. aren’t these C. are they D. aren’t they
4. That’s Bod’s, ____________?
A. is that B. isn’t it C. isn’t that D. is it
5. No one died in the accident, ______________?
A. did they B. didn’t they C. did he D. didn’t he
6. The air-hostess knows the time she has been here, ______________?

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 A. does she B. isn’t it C. doesn’t she D. did she
7. This is the second time she’s been here, ______________?
A. isn’t this B. isn’t it C. has she D. hasn’t she
8. They must do as they are told, ________________?
A. mustn’t they B. must they C. are they D. aren’t they
9. He hardly has anything nowadays, _________________?
A. hasn’t she B. has he C. doesn’t he D. does she
10. You’ve never been in Italy, _________________?
A. have you B. haven’t you C. been you D. had you
11. Sally turned her report, ________________?
A. didn’t she B. did she C. hadn’t she D. didn’t she
12. He arrived late, _______?
A. didn’t he B. did he C. hadn’t he D. didn’t he
13.Andrew isn’t sleeping, _______?
A . is he B. isn’t he C.was he D.wasn’t he
14. You have a ticket to the game, _______________?
A. have you B. don’t you C. haven’t you D. do you
15. Tom knows Alice, _____________?
A. doesn’t he B. is he C. does he D. isn’t he
16. Come into the kitchen, _____________?
A. do you B. will you C. won’t you D. B and C
17. Everybody likes beauty, ___________________?
A. doesn’t he B. do they C. don’t they D. does he
18. Peter never comes to class late, ________________?
A. doesn’t he B. doesn’t Peter C. does he D. does Peter
19. I’m going to see my grandparents in HCM City next week, _______________?
A. aren’t I B. am I not C. are you D. A and B
20. Your baby is very lovely, ______________?
A. is he B. isn’t he C. is it D. isn’t it
Exercise 6. Choose the best option to complete these following sentences.
1.Tom invited us to come to his party, __________?

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A. hadn’t he B. couldn’t he C. wasn’t he D. didn’t he
2. There was an exciting football match on TV last night, _________?
A. wasn’t it B. was not there C. wasn’t there D. was it
3. – Who teaches you English? –Mr. Black_________.
A. is B. teaches C. does D. do
4. I am not too fat, __________?
A. aren’t I B. do I C. am I D. are I
5. I’m wrong, _________?
A. am not B. aren’t I C. are not D. amn’t
6. Someone discovered penicillin in 1928, _________?
A. hadn’t he/she B. didn’t he/she C. didn’t someone D. wasn’t he/she
7. You stayed home last night, _________?
A. had you B. would you C. didn’t you D. did you
8. The poor don’t have many things to eat, _________?
A. do we B. do they C. do you D. do I
9. The teacher asked you if you finished your homework that day, __________?
A. hadn’t he B. didn’t he C. didn’t you D. hadn’t he
10. You were driving home when you saw Lan, _________?
A. didn’t you B. weren’t you C. wouldn’t you D. hadn’t you
11. You are thirsty, __________?
A. don’t you B. aren’t you C. are you D. are not you
12. Nam wishes he had worked hard last year, __________?
A. hadn’t Nam B. hadn’t he C. doesn’t Nam D. doesn’t he
13. Not only the women but also the men _________ watching this programme.
A. like B. has liked C. is liking D. likes
14. Neither the students nor the teacher ___________ raincoats.
A. taking B. takes C. are taking D. take
15. You had had breakfast before you went to school yesterday, ___________?
A. hadn’t you B. didn’t you C. wouldn’t you D. weren’t you
16. _________ ten minutes earlier, we would have got better seats.

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A. If we had not arrived B. Had we arrived C. Did we arrive D. If we
arrived
17. Only when you grow up, __________ the truth.
A. did you know B. will you know C. you would know D. you
will know
18. You could ride a bicycle when you were five, ___________?
A. hadn’t you B. didn’t you C. weren’t you D. couldn’t you
19. There have been many achievements since the country carried out economic
reforms, ________?
A. don’t there B. haven’t they C. haven’t there D. don’t they
20. People who exercise frequently are healthier than those who ____________.
A. exercise B. do C. don’t D. are

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