Question tags: Forms (Unit7)

Main points

• You add a question tag to a statement to turn it into a question.
• A question tag consists of a verb and a pronoun. The verb in a question tag is always an auxiliary, a modal, or a form of the main verb `be'.
• With a positive statement, you usually use a negative question tag containing a short form ending in `-n't'.
• With a negative statement, you always use a positive question tag.

1. A question tag is a short phrase that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a `yes/no'-question. You use question tags when you want to ask someone to confirm or disagree with what you are saying, or when you want to sound more polite. Question tags are rarely used in formal written English.

• He's very friendly, isn't he?
• You haven't seen it before, have you?

2. You form a question tag by using an auxiliary, a modal, or a form of the main verb `be', followed by a pronoun. The pronoun refers to the subject of the statement.

• David's school is quite nice, isn't it?
• She made a remarkable recovery, didn't she?

3. If the statement contains an auxiliary or modal, the same auxiliary or modal is used in the question tag.

• Jill's coming tomorrow, isn't she?
• You didn't know I was an artist, did you?
• You've never been to Benidorm, have you?
• You will stay in touch, won't you?

4. If the statement does not contain an auxiliary, a modal, or `be' as a main verb, you use `do', 'does', or 'did' in the question tag.

• You like it here, don't you?
• Sally still works there, doesn't she?
• He played for Ireland, didn't he?

5. If the statement contains the present simple or past simple of `be' as a main verb, the same form of the verb `be' is used in the question tag.

• It is quite warm, isn't it?
• They were really rude, weren't they?

6. If the statement contains the simple present or simple past of `have' as a main verb, you usually use `do', `does', or `did' in the question tag.

• He has a problem, doesn't he?

You can also use the same form of `have' in the question tag, but this is not very common.

• She has a large house, hasn't she?

7. With a positive statement you normally use a negative question tag, formed by adding `-n't' to the verb.

• You like Ralph a lot, don't you?
• They are beautiful, aren't they?

Note that the negative question tag with `I' is `aren't'.

• I'm a fool, aren't I?

8. With a negative statement you always use a positive question tag.

• It doesn't work, does it?
• You won't tell anyone else, will you?

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