QUESTION TAGS
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QUESTION TAGS
* Question tags are short form at the end of
statements. They are mainly used in speech when we
want to confirm something or when we want to find
out if something is true or not.
- It isn’t a dog, is it?
- They are cats, aren’t they?
* Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or
modal verb from the main sentence and the
appropriate subject pronoun.
- Karen is learning to drive, isn’t she?
- Mark can’t ride a horse, can he?
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* We use a negative question tag after a positive sentence.
- Kate will be here soon, won’t she?
- There was a lot of traffic, wasn’t there?
- Michael should pass the exam, shouldn’t he?
• We use a positive question tag after a negative
sentence.
- Kate won’t be late, will she?
- They don’t like us, do they?
- You haven’t got a car, have you?
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* When the verb of the sentence is in the present or
past simple, we form the question tag with do/does or
did and the subject pronoun.
- John doesn’t like golf, does he?
- They left for Milan, didn’t they?
* When the sentence contains a word with a negative
meaning like never, hardly, seldom or rarely, the question
tag is positive.
- They hardly ever go to the theatre, do they?
- He never plays tennis, does he?
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• Some verbs/expressions form question tags differently.
- I am → aren’t I? I am thin, aren’t I?
- Imperative → will/won’t you Stop talking, will/won’t you?
- Don’t → will you? Don’t talk, will you?
- Let’s → shall we? Let’s go out, shall we?
- I have (got) → haven’t I (I possess)
She has got a bike, hasn’t she?
- I have → don’t I (other meanings)
You have lunch at three o’clock, don’t you?
- There is/are → isn’t/aren’t there
There is an envelope on the desk, isn’t there?
- This /That is→ isn’t it? This is Pam’s shirt, isn’t it?
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ANYTHING-NOTHING-EVERTHING-SOMETHING = IT
SOMEBODY-SOMEONE-EVERYBODY-EVERYONE-
ANYBODY-ANYONE-NOBODY-NO ONE = THEY
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Examples:
1) I like wearing colourful costumes, don’t I?
2) She went to cinema last week, didn’t she?
3) I have to wear uniform in the school, don’t I?
4) Sheila hasn’t written any novels, has she?
5) Kübra can’t play football well, can she?
6) I’m from Mersin, aren’t I?
7) I’m not from Mersin, am I?
8) Duygu is going to read her English story book next
weekend, isn’t she?
9) There is a tape-recorder on the table, isn’t there?
10) This is a worksheet, isn’t it?
11) Don’t give me advice, will you?
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12) Give an example please, will you?
13) Sit down, will you?
14) Let’s go to party, shall we?
15) Let’s play a game, shall we?
16) Somebody is at the door, aren’t they?
17) Everybody is thinking about the quiz, aren’t they?
18) Nobody called me yesterday, did they?
19) Everything was done to save the rainforest, wasn’t it?
20) Sultan never drinks beer, does she?
21) My mother rarely goes out with her friends, does
she?
22) Hülya has never been to Paris, has she?
23) My friend seldom has an argument with somebody,
does she?
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1. Put A QUESTION TAG at the end of each sentence:
1. Tom won’t be late, ………….. will he ………….... ?
2. They were very angry, …………………………….. ?
3. Ann’s on holiday, ………………………………….. ?
4. You weren’t listening, ………………………………?
5. Sue doesn’t like onions, …………………………….?
6. Jack’s applied for the job, …………………………..?
7. You’ve got a camera, ………………………………. ?
8. You can type, ………………………………………..?
9. He won’t mind if I go early, …………………………?
10. Tom could help you, ……………………………….. ?
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11. There are a lot of people here, ……………………… ?
12. Let’s have dinner, ……………………………………?
13. This isn’t very interesting, ………………………….. ?
14. I’m too fat, ………………………………………….. ?
15. You wouldn’t tell anyone, ………………………….. ?
16. Listen, ………………………………………………..?
17. I shouldn’t have got angry, …………………………. ?
18. Don’t drop it, ……………………………………….. ?
19. They had to go home, ………………………………. ?
20. He’s never seen you before, …………………………?
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2. Complete the conversation. Put in the QUESTION TAGS:
Mary : Let’s go out somewhere tonight, ……………………………..
Jeff : All right. Where?
Mary : You haven’t got a local paper, ……………………………… . Pass
it over here, ……………………………… . Thanks. Well, there’s a
disco at the Grand Hotel.
Jeff : Fine, but I haven’t got any money. You couldn’t lend
me five pounds, ………………..
Mary: OK, I’ll pay then. I’ll meet you outside at eight o’clock.
Don’t be late, ……………….
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