TAG QUESTIONS TAG QUESTIONS A tag question is

TAG QUESTIONS

TAG QUESTIONS A tag question is a question added at the end of a sentence. Speakers use it to make sure their information is correct.

What is a Tag Question? �A tag question is a sentence with a question phrase connected at the end. �Example: It’s windy today, isn’t it?

Tag Questions Have Two Purposes: To clarify information 1. (the speaker expects an answer) Example: We have a test tomorrow, don’t we? Mr. Obama is coming to the meeting, isn’t he? I’m permitted to park here, aren’t I?

Tag Questions Have Two Purposes: 2. To agree with someone (the speaker does not expect an answer) Example: ▪ ▪ ▪ You’re falling asleep, aren’t you? The party was a lot of fun, wasn’t it? I didn’t win the lottery, did I?

Forming Tag Questions Step 1: Identify the verb in the sentence. Armando likes to eat at buffets, ______ __? verb

Forming Tag Questions Step 2: Identify the type of verb. (Is it the verb “to be”, an auxiliary verb, or the main verb? ) Armando likes to eat at buffets, _____ ___? Main verb

Forming Tag Questions Step 3: Identify the tense of verb. (Is it in present or past tense or other tenses? ) Armando likes to eat at buffets, ______ ___? Present tense

Forming Tag Questions Step 4: If in present tense, determine if 1 st or 3 rd person. If in past tense, use auxiliary “to be” or “do” in past. Armando likes to eat at buffets , _ _ ____? Use the auxiliary verb “does”.

Forming Tag Questions Step 5: Is the verb affirmative or negative? Armando likes to eat at buffets, doesn’t ____? Affirmative Write in the opposite.

Forming Tag Questions Step 6: Add the pronoun at the end. Armando likes to eat at buffets, doesn’t he ? Noun

SUMMARY �Step 1: �Step 2: �Step 3: �Step 4: Identify the verb in the sentence. Identify the type of verb. Identify the tense. If in present tense, determine if 1 st or 3 rd person. If in past tense, use auxiliary “to be” or “do” in past. �Step 5: Affirmative or negative? �Step 6: Add pronoun.

Affirmative sentence + negative tag Mary is here, isn’t she? They have left, haven’t they?

Negative sentence + affirmative tag Andy can’t sing, can he? You don’t like tea, do you?

Important Notes �In the present tense, if the subject is "I", the auxiliary changes to are or aren't. I'm sitting next to you, aren't I?

Important Notes �With let's, the tag question is shall we. Let's go to the beach, shall we?

Important Notes �With an imperative, the tag question is will you. Close the window, will you?

Important Notes �We use a positive tag question after a sentence containing a negative word such as never, hardly, nobody. Nobody lives in this house, do they? You've never liked me, have you?

Important Notes �When the subject is nothing, we use it in the tag question. Nothing bad happened, did it?

Important Notes �When the subject is nobody, somebody, everybody, no one, someone, or everyone, we use they in the tag question. Nobody asked for me, did they?

Important Notes If the main verb in the sentence is have (not an auxiliary verb), it is more common to use do in the question tag. You have a Ferrari, don't you?

Important Notes �With used to, we use didn't in the tag question. You used to work here, didn't you?