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Question Tags 

 


1  WHAT IS A QUESTION TAG?

A question tag is a short phrase at the end of a sentence which changes the sentence into a question.

A question tag asks either for confirmation of a fact or for agreement with an opinion.

Asking for confirmation:    Today is Friday, isn’t it?
Asking for agreement:       This wine is terrific, isn’t it?


2  FORMING A QUESTION TAG

A question tag always comes at the end of the sentence.

A question tag is always two words.

The first word is the auxiliary verb of the sentence.
It has the same tense as the verb in the sentence.
It is negative if the sentence is positive and positive if the sentence is negative


The second word is always a pronoun
It refers to the subject of the sentence. 


EXAMPLES:

(I think this is a great day.  I want you to share my enthusiasm.)

 

(He's a very good golfer.  Is he a professional?)
(I think I've heard that name.  Is he a professional golfer?)

 

(I think Mary is working too hard.  What do you think?)

 

(John looks unhappy.  Is he losing his match?)
(I expect John to lose, but he looks happy.  Is he winning his match?)
(You look like you have good news.  Is John winning the match he is expected to lose?)

 

(I can't remember for certain, but I think you have a baby.  Am I right?)

 

(I think you probably don't have a piano, but I'll ask just to be sure.  Do you have one?)

 

(I think Bob bought a new car.  Is that correct?)

 

(I don't know if we won or lost, but I expect bad news.  Tell me, did we lose the match?)
(You look disappointed.  Is it because we lost the match?)

 

(I have reason to believe you have been to London, but I'm not sure.  Have you been there?)
(I think you have been to London.  Please confirm my opinion.)

 

(I am looking for my wife.  I would be surprised if you have seen her but I'll ask anyway.  Have you seen her?)

 

(My opinion is that we have been wasting time.  Please agree with me.)

 

(I hope you haven't been waiting long.  Please confirm this to me.)

 

(I have reason to believe you will go to San Francisco.  Please confirm this to me.)

 

(I hope they won't stop production; that would be bad.  Please tell me they won't.)

 

(I believe the plan is for us to see a play.  Am I correct?)

 

(I don't want to have lunch here.  Please don't tell me we will.)
(I don't like this place.  I don't want to have lunch here.) 

 


3  AN ALTERNATIVE TO QUESTION TAGS

As an alternative to question tags, we can simply ask for confirmation or agreement directly.


Asking for confirmation:

"Today is Friday.  Isn't that right?"

"Yesterday you worked overtime.  Isn't that right?"

"You are going to Denver next week.  Isn't that so?"


Asking for agreement:

"This is difficult.  Don’t you agree?"

"He didn’t play fair.  Don't you think so?"

"These grapes will make a great wine.  Wouldn't you say so?"


   

 

 

   


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