Introduction to Tag Questions
Tag questions (also called question tags) are short questions added to the end of statements to:
- Seek confirmation (“It’s cold today, isn’t it?”)
- Encourage agreement (“This cake is delicious, don’t you think?”)
- Make polite requests (“You could help me, couldn’t you?”)
Basic Structure of Tag Questions
Formula:
Statement + comma + auxiliary verb + pronoun
Examples:
- “You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?”
- “She doesn’t live here anymore, does she?”
- “They’ve finished the project, haven’t they?”
Rules for Forming Tag Questions
1. Auxiliary Verb Matching
- Use the same auxiliary verb as in the main statement
- If no auxiliary, use “do/does/did”
Examples:
- “He is French, isn’t he?”
- “You like coffee, don’t you?”
- “They went home, didn’t they?”
2. Positive/Negative Reversal
- Positive statement → negative tag
- Negative statement → positive tag
Examples:
- “You know the answer, don’t you?” (positive → negative)
- “She hasn’t called, has she?” (negative → positive)
3. Pronoun Agreement
- Always use a pronoun that matches the subject
Examples:
- “Mary is late, isn’t she?”
- “The children are sleeping, aren’t they?”
- “This book is interesting, isn’t it?”
Special Cases and Exceptions
1. “I am” → “aren’t I”
- “I’m on time, aren’t I?” (never “amn’t I”)
2. Imperatives
- Use “will you/would you” for commands
- “Open the window, will you?”
- Use “won’t you” for invitations
- “Have some tea, won’t you?”
3. “Let’s” → “shall we”
- “Let’s go to the beach, shall we?”
4. Negative Words
Words like “never”, “hardly”, “scarcely” make the statement negative:
- “You never call me, do you?”
5. “There is/are”
- “There’s a problem, isn’t there?”
Intonation Patterns
1. Rising Intonation (↗)
- When genuinely unsure of the answer
- “You live on Maple Street, don’t you?↗”
2. Falling Intonation (↘)
- When expecting agreement
- “Nice weather today, isn’t it?↘”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mismatched auxiliary verbs:
- Wrong: “She goes to school, isn’t she?”
- Right: “She goes to school, doesn’t she?”
- Incorrect pronouns:
- Wrong: “Everybody left, didn’t he?”
- Right: “Everybody left, didn’t they?”
- Double negatives:
- Wrong: “You don’t know, do not you?”
- Right: “You don’t know, do you?”
Advanced Usage
1. Rhetorical Tags
Used to make pointed comments:
- “So you broke the vase, did you?”
2. Sarcastic Tags
With opposite meaning through tone:
- “Oh, you’re an expert now, are you?”
3. Encouraging Response
In conversations to keep them going:
- “You’ve been to Japan, haven’t you?”
Practice Exercises
- Add the correct tag question:
- She can swim very well, ___?
- We shouldn’t be late, ___?
- Nobody called, ___?
- Identify the mistakes:
- “They are coming tomorrow, isn’t they?”
- “I’m your best friend, am I not?”
- Create tag questions for these situations:
- Asking if a colleague received your email
- Checking if a restaurant is still open
- Confirming someone’s birthday
Real-World Applications
- Customer Service:
- “You’d like the receipt in the bag, wouldn’t you?”
- Teaching:
- “The past participle of ‘go’ is ‘gone’, isn’t it?”
- Social Conversations:
- “You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
Conclusion
Key points to remember:
- Match the auxiliary verb from the main clause
- Reverse positive/negative
- Always use appropriate pronouns
- Pay attention to special cases
- Use intonation to convey meaning
Mastering tag questions will make your English sound more natural and help you engage in more interactive conversations. They’re particularly valuable for:
- Checking information
- Showing interest
- Keeping dialogues flowing
- Being polite in requests