TAG QUESTIONS Tag questions in English are special

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TAG QUESTIONS Tag questions in English are special endings to statements that we can

TAG QUESTIONS Tag questions in English are special endings to statements that we can use to check information. They are also a great strategy to keep a conversation going.

To make a tag question, we start with a statement we think is true.

To make a tag question, we start with a statement we think is true. For example: q Today is a beautiful day.

Then we add a tag question at the end using the helping verb and

Then we add a tag question at the end using the helping verb and the subject from the statement. If the statement is positive, the tag question will be negative.

It is almost important to remember that tag questions will almost always use the

It is almost important to remember that tag questions will almost always use the contraction form. For example: q Today is a beautiful day, isn't it?

If the statement is negative, the tag question will be positive. For example: q

If the statement is negative, the tag question will be positive. For example: q Gus has not finished his homework, has he?

Here are some more examples of using question tags to check information: q You

Here are some more examples of using question tags to check information: q You play the guitar, don't you? q Erica didn't call, did she? q Ursula was making tea earlier, wasn't she? q They will send us a report soon, won't they?

And here are some more examples of using question tags to keep a conversation

And here are some more examples of using question tags to keep a conversation going: q This concert is wonderful, isn't it? q That actress is very talented, isn't she? q That athlete can do anything, can't he? q The children really love their mother, don't they?

A tag question is a sentence with a small part at the end that

A tag question is a sentence with a small part at the end that makes it a question. For example: q You like kittens. This is a statement, not a question.

Now we add a small part at the end of it: For example: q

Now we add a small part at the end of it: For example: q You like kittens, don't you? Now this sentence is a question. We call it a tag question. The little part at the end (after the comma) is called a question tag. (A tag is a word or phrase that is added to a sentence. )

Why do we need these question tags? We use questions tags (such as "don't

Why do we need these question tags? We use questions tags (such as "don't you? ", "isn't it? ") to turn statements into questions, or to check that a statement is correct. It's like saying, "Am I right? " or "Is that correct? « Using question tags can help you sound more natural in English.

POSITIVE STATEMENTS In most cases, the helping verb (or BE verb) from the positive

POSITIVE STATEMENTS In most cases, the helping verb (or BE verb) from the positive statement is repeated in the tag and changed to negative.

Example sentence: q Statement: Brenda is sad. q Question tag: isn't she? q Tag

Example sentence: q Statement: Brenda is sad. q Question tag: isn't she? q Tag question: Brenda is sad, isn't she?

Example sentence: q Statement: Dinner is ready. q Question tag: isn't it? q Tag

Example sentence: q Statement: Dinner is ready. q Question tag: isn't it? q Tag question: Dinner is ready, isn't it?

Example sentence: q Statement: You are good friends. q Question tag: aren't you? q

Example sentence: q Statement: You are good friends. q Question tag: aren't you? q Tag question: You are good friends, aren't you?

Example sentence: q Statement: I will be fine. q Question tag: won't I? q

Example sentence: q Statement: I will be fine. q Question tag: won't I? q Tag question: I will be fine, won't I?

Example sentence: q Statement: You can handle it. q Question tag: can't you? q

Example sentence: q Statement: You can handle it. q Question tag: can't you? q Tag question: You can handle it, can't you?

Example sentence: q Statement: She really must get some sleep. q Question tag: mustn't

Example sentence: q Statement: She really must get some sleep. q Question tag: mustn't she? q Tag question: She really must get some sleep, mustn't she?

Example sentence: q Statement: I should give it back. q Question tag: shouldn't I?

Example sentence: q Statement: I should give it back. q Question tag: shouldn't I? q Tag question: I should give it back, shouldn't I?

Example sentence: q Statement: You do feel nervous. q Question tag: don't you? q

Example sentence: q Statement: You do feel nervous. q Question tag: don't you? q Tag question: You do feel nervous, don't you?

If there is no helping verb in the statement, then we usually use "don't":

If there is no helping verb in the statement, then we usually use "don't": Example sentence: q Statement: You work hard. q Question tag: don't you? q Tag question: You work hard, don't you?

Example sentence: q Statement: Lucas loves his father. q Question tag: doesn't he? q

Example sentence: q Statement: Lucas loves his father. q Question tag: doesn't he? q Tag question: Lucas loves his father, doesn't he?

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS In most cases, the helping verb (or BE verb) from the negative

NEGATIVE STATEMENTS In most cases, the helping verb (or BE verb) from the negative statement is repeated in the tag and changed to positive.

Example sentence: q Statement: Brenda isn't happy. q Question tag: is she? q Tag

Example sentence: q Statement: Brenda isn't happy. q Question tag: is she? q Tag question: Brenda isn't happy, is she?

Example sentence: q Statement: Dinner isn't ready. q Question tag: is it? q Tag

Example sentence: q Statement: Dinner isn't ready. q Question tag: is it? q Tag question: Dinner isn't ready, is it?

Example sentence: q Statement: You aren't strangers. q Question tag: are you? q Tag

Example sentence: q Statement: You aren't strangers. q Question tag: are you? q Tag question: You aren't strangers, are you?

Example sentence: q Statement: I won't be fine. q Question tag: will I? q

Example sentence: q Statement: I won't be fine. q Question tag: will I? q Tag question: I won't be fine, will I?

Example sentence: q Statement: You can't handle it. q Question tag: can you? q

Example sentence: q Statement: You can't handle it. q Question tag: can you? q Tag question: You can't handle it, can you?

Example sentence: q Statement: She really mustn't stay up so late. q Question tag:

Example sentence: q Statement: She really mustn't stay up so late. q Question tag: must she? q Tag question: She really mustn't stay up so late, must she?

Example sentence: q Statement: I shouldn't keep it. q Question tag: should I? q

Example sentence: q Statement: I shouldn't keep it. q Question tag: should I? q Tag question: I shouldn't keep it, should I?

Example sentence: q Statement: You don't look so good. q Question tag: do you?

Example sentence: q Statement: You don't look so good. q Question tag: do you? q Tag question: You don't look so good, do you?

NOTE that words such as "never" make the statement negative, so: Examples sentence: q

NOTE that words such as "never" make the statement negative, so: Examples sentence: q Statement: Bobo never barks. q Question tag: does he? q Tag question: Bobo never barks, does he?

TAG QUESTIONS EXAMPLES STATEMENT QUESTION TAG Positive ( + ) Negative ( - )

TAG QUESTIONS EXAMPLES STATEMENT QUESTION TAG Positive ( + ) Negative ( - ) The movie is long, isn't it? The kids are sleeping, aren't they? We will win, won't we? She must be right, mustn't she? He should be home, shouldn't he? Negative ( - ) Positive ( + ) The movie isn't long, is it? The kids aren't sleeping, are they? We will not win, will we? She must not be right, must she? He should not be home, should he?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with the Verb BE 1. You are here, …………………

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with the Verb BE 1. You are here, ………………… ? 2. We are happy, ………………… ? 3. They are busy, ………… ? 4. He is tall, ………… ? 5. She is fast, …………………. ? 6. It is cold, …………………. ? 7. (Formal English) I am tall, …………………. ? 8. (Spoken English) I am smart, …………………. ? 9. You are not Italian, ………………… ? 10. We are not late, …………………. ? 11. They are not angry, ………………. . ? 12. He is not nice, ………………. . ? 13. She is not lazy, ………………… ? 14. It is not hot, …………………. ? 15. I am not lazy, ………………… ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with the Verb BE 1. We are worried, ………………….

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with the Verb BE 1. We are worried, …………………. . ? 2. We are not famous, …………………. ? 3. They are not happy, …………………. ? 4. It is not rainy, ………… ? 5. You are not fat, …………………. ? 6. John is home, ………………… ? 7. Magen is fast, ………………… ? 8. (Formal English) I am loud, ………………… ? 9. I am not young, …………………. ? 10. (Spoken English) I am better, …………………. . ? 11. You are brave, …………………. . ? 12. A ball is round, …………………. . ? 13. He is not rude, ………………… ? 14. They are busy, ………………… ? 15. She is not old, ………………… ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences in the Simple Present Tense 1. You work hard,

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences in the Simple Present Tense 1. You work hard, …………………. ? 2. We like swimming, …………………. ? 3. They buy food there, …………………. ? 4. He plays the piano, …………………. ? 5. She studies abroad, …………………. ? 6. It rains a lot, …………………. ? 7. I eat cheese, …………………. ? 8. You don’t work here, …………………. ? 9. We don’t use forks, …………………. ? 10. They don’t travel much, …………………. ? 11. He doesn’t live here, …………………. ? 12. She doesn’t bake cakes, …………………. ? 13. It doesn’t stop, …………………. ? 14. I don’t play basketball, …………………. ?

Tag Questions to Sentences in the Simple Present Tense 1. You go to school,

Tag Questions to Sentences in the Simple Present Tense 1. You go to school, …………………. ? 2. We don’t leave early, …………………. ? 3. Kate doesn’t know Spanish, …………………. ? 4. We watch movies, …………………. ? 5. They agree with you, …………………. ? 6. They don’t say what they think, …………………. ? 7. It doesn’t get worse, …………………. ? 8. I find new thing to do, …………………. ? 9. Ken eats salad, …………………. ? 10. Beth keeps trying, …………………. ? 11. I don’t have many problems, …………………. ? 12. It snows a lot, …………………. ? 13. You don’t understand, …………………. ? 14. Robert doesn’t apologize, …………………. ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. You can jump high, ……………….

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. You can jump high, ………………. . ? 2. We must go home, ………………. . ? 3. They should help us, …………………. . ? 4. He will pass the exam, …………………. ? 5. She would like to stay, …………………. ? 6. It might rain today, …………………. ? 7. I could swim well when I was younger, …………………. ? 8. You will come later, …………………. ? 9. We could visit Sarah tomorrow, …………………. ? 10. They can win the game, …………………. ? 11. He must be really tired, …………………. ? 12. She might leave early, …………………. ? 13. It should be fun, …………………. ? 14. I will find it, …………………. ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. Lisa can drive, …………………. ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. Lisa can drive, …………………. ? 2. You must help you parents, …………………. ? 3. We should turn on the light, …………………. ? 4. I will read the book, …………………. ? 5. Ben would like to speak to you, …………………. ? 6. It might end before schedule, …………………. ? 7. They could at least call, …………………. ? 8. You will tell the truth, …………………. ? 9. Sarah could write a letter, …………………. ? 10. They can bring some flowers, …………………. ? 11. Zack must be hungry, …………………. ? 12. Jonathan might miss the train, …………………. ? 13. It should be enough, …………………. ? 14. I will see you soon, …………………. ?

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. I can’t run so fast,

Adding Tag Questions to Sentences with Modal Verbs 1. I can’t run so fast, ………………. . ? 2. You won’t break the window, ………………… ? 3. James shouldn’t be so loud, ………………… ? 4. The dress mustn’t be black, ………………. . ? 5. They might not win, …………………. ? 6. We couldn’t stay at home, ………………… ? 7. Andrea wouldn’t like some cake, ………………… ? 8. I mustn’t be rude, ………………… ? 9. You couldn’t be wrong, …………………. ? 10. They shouldn’t feel bad, …………………. ? 11. It won’t hurt at all, …………………. ? 12. That might not happen, ………………. . ? 13. Liz can’t decide what to do, ………………. . ? 14. We couldn’t find our bags, ………………. . ?