2 Meeting

nd
“QUESTION TAG”

By:
Ita miftahussaidah r, m.Pd
WHAT IS QUESTION TAG?
• Question tags are short questions that can follow sentences, especially in
spoken English.
• We use question tags to ask if something is true or to ask people to agree with
us.
FORM OF QUESTION TAG:
Positive statement – question tag negative
Negative statement – question tag positive
 Normal Question
Are you hungry?

Question changed to statement with Question Tag

You are hungry, aren’t you?

Normal Statement
That was a good movie.

Statement with Question Tag

That was a good movie, wasn’t it?
Why do we use question tags?
o We use it in informal speech.

o We add question tags to the end of

statements to turn them into questions.

o We want to check if something is true OR

to invite people to agree with us.

o It is a conformation or an emphasis of the

point you want to make.
 The Rules of Question Tags

#1 Positive Verb  Negative Verb (and visa versa)

#2 Verbs without auxiliaries
#3 Sentences that start with “I am”
#4 Commands
#5 Sentences that start with “Let’s”
#6 Intonation

* a sheet with the rules and it’s explanations will now be provided to each of the students
 Rule #1
Positive Verb  Negative Verb

o If the verb in the sentence is POSITIVE then the verb in the question tag would be NEGATIVE.

o Example: She can speak English, can’t she?

o Practice: He is good in English, ______________ he?

o If the verb in the sentence is NEGATIVE then the verb in the question tag would be POSITIVE.

o Example: She can’t speak English, can she?

o Practice: He isn’t good in English, ______________ he?

 Rule #2
Verbs without Auxiliaries
We (did) ran to the school, didn’t we?

Past tense: We did Positive verb = question

run to the school tag negative verb

o If the main part of the sentence has a verb, but does not
have an auxiliary verb then the question tag will use an
appropriate form of ‘do’. Do & Don’t
OR

o Example: He loves homework, doesn’t he? Did & Didn’t

o Practice: They speak English in class, _________ they?

** Remember an auxiliary verb is a helping verb that is used together with the main verb to show a verb’s tense.
 Rule #3
Sentences that start with ‘I am’
o I am (I’m) = aren’t I?

o Example: I am the best at sport, aren’t I?

o Practice: I am good in English, ___________ I?

o I am not = am I?

o Example: I am not going on the trip, am I?

o Practice: I am not going to the movies, __________ I?

 Rule #4
Commands
o This is used when you command someone to do
something.

o Example: Close the door, will you?

o Practice: Bring me the book, _______ you?

REMEMBER:

Command + will you

 Rule #5
Sentences that start with “Let’s”

o If a sentence start with “Let’s” the question tag will

always be shall we.

o Example: Let’s go dancing, shall we?

o Practice: Let’s have some food, ______ we?

REMEMBER:

Let’s + shall we
 Quick Recap of The Rules of
Question Tags
#1 Positive Verb  Negative Verb (and visa versa)
Statement Positive + Question Tag Negative
Statement Negative + Question Tag Positive
#2 Verbs without auxiliaries
Do & Don’t / Did & Didn’t
#3 Sentences that start with “I am”
I am = aren’t I?
#4 Commands
Command = will you?
#5 Sentences that start with “Let’s”
Let’s = shall we?
 Rule #6
Intonation
REMEMBER:
We said that we use question tags if we want to check if something is true OR
to invite people to agree with us. This is where intonation comes in.

o Intonation is the rise or fall of your voice.

o A real question is used when you want to check if something is true.
o If the question tag is a real question we use rising intonation.
This means that our tone of voice rises.
o If we already know the answer we use falling intonation.
This means that our tone of voice falls. (Invite people to agree with us)
 Rule #6
Intonation

Example:
I am walking into English class and I suddenly remember about the questions tags worksheet
that was handed out. Before we go into class I quickly ask my friend…..

The question tags worksheet is only due tomorrow, isn’t it?

Rising intonation, because I was asking a real question

and I wanted my friend to confirm my statement.
 Rule #6
Intonation

Example:
My best friend and I both love eating desserts. We went to an opening of a new restaurant and
ordered their signature dessert. After we finished our dessert I asked my friend…..

That was a great dessert, wasn’t it?

Falling intonation, because I already know the

answer that my friend is going to give.
 More Intonation Examples
What type of intonation will I use is the following scenarios?

John and Peter loves watching football. During lunch I walked past them
and decided to start some small talk with them and I said…..
That was a very exciting football game last night, wasn’t it?

I went to the movies with Mary on Saturday and when we got to school
on Monday we were telling Sarah about our day at the movies. I say …..
We really enjoyed going to the movies, didn’t we?

It is family dinner and the whole family is sitting around the table. I
just placed the last board in the middle of the table and I say…..
Let’s eat, shall we?

We had a spelling competition at school today and I was telling

my parents all about it. I turned to my brother and I say…..
You won your grade’s spelling competition, didn’t you?