Unit 8 Question tags: uses

Main points

• You can use negative statements with positive question tags to make requests.
• You use positive statements with positive question tags to show reactions.
• You use some question tags to make imperatives more polite.

1 You can use a negative statement and a positive question tag to ask people for things, or to ask for help or information.

• You wouldn't sell it to me, would you?
• You won't tell anyone else this, will you?

2 When you want to show your reaction to what someone has just said, for example by expressing interest, surprise, doubt, or anger, you use a positive statement with a positive question tag.

• You've been to North America before, have you?
• You fell on your back, did you?
• I borrowed your car last night. - Oh, you did, did you?

3 When you use an imperative, you can be more polite by adding one of the following question tags.

will you; won't you; would you

• See that she gets safely back, won't you?
• Look at that, would you?

When you use a negative imperative, you can only use `will you' as a question tag.

• Don't tell Howard, will you?

`Will you' and `won't you' can also be used to emphasize anger or impatience. `Can't you' is also used in this way.

• Oh, hurry up, will you!
• For goodness sake be quiet, can't you!

4 You use the question tag `shall we' when you make a suggestion using `let's'.

• Let's forget it, shall we?

You use the question tag `shall I' after `I'll'.

• I'll tell you, shall I?

5 You use `they' in question tags after `anybody', `anyone', `everybody', `everyone', `nobody', `no one', `somebody' or `someone'.

• Everyone will be leaving on Friday, won't they?
• Nobody had bothered to plant new ones, had they?

You use `it' in question tags after `anything', `everything', `nothing', or `something'.

• Nothing matters now, does it?
• Something should be done, shouldn't it?

You use `there' in question tags after `there is', `there are', `there was', or `there were'.

• There's a new course out now, isn't there?

6 When you are replying to a question tag, your answer refers to the statement, not the question tag.

If you want to confirm a positive statement, you say `yes'. For example, if you have finished a piece of work and someone says to you `You've finished that, haven't you?', the answer is `yes'.

• `It became stronger, didn't it?' - `Yes, it did.'

If you want to disagree with a positive statement, you say `no'. For example, if you have not finished your work and someone says `You've finished that, haven't you?', the answer is `no'.

• You've just seen a performance of the play, haven't you? - No, not yet.

If you want to confirm a negative statement, you say `no'. For example, if you have not finished your work and someone says `You haven't finished that, have you?', the answer is `no'.

• `You didn't know that, did you?' - `No.'

If you want to disagree with a negative statement, you say `yes'. For example, if you have finished a piece of work and someone says `You haven't finished that, have you?', the answer is `yes'.

• `You haven't been there, have you?' - `Yes, I have.'