question tags

Mrs. Anabel Montes - English teacher

Question Tags

• Statement Sentences with short questions at the end with a question mark!

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

• A ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ is A ‘tag-question’ or ‘question tag’ is notnot a true question. a true question.

A tag question is used at the end of a A tag question is used at the end of a Statement Sentence to get the Statement Sentence to get the confirmationconfirmation from the listener, or just from the listener, or just to express one’s doubt. to express one’s doubt.

Tag-Questions

• Making a tag-question sentence:

• She is your friend , isn’t she ?

A positive tag-question sentence!

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

There are five simple points we There are five simple points we should follow when we use a Tag-should follow when we use a Tag-question: question:

Point 1Point 1 A comma is used between the main A comma is used between the main

sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g.sentence and the ‘tag’ part, e.g. This is your bookThis is your book,, isn’t it? isn’t it?

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

►Point 2Point 2::

►Even if the subject of the main sentence is Even if the subject of the main sentence is a noun – proper noun or common noun – a noun – proper noun or common noun – thethe

subject of the ‘tag’ part is always a subject of the ‘tag’ part is always a corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN. e.g.corresponding PERSONAL PRONOUN. e.g.

MaryMary isn’t your sister, is isn’t your sister, is sheshe??

Tag-QuestionsTag-QuestionsPoint 2 Point 2 ((continuedcontinued))

JohnJohn has gone home, hasn’t ?has gone home, hasn’t ?

‘‘John’ – proper noun – male – singularJohn’ – proper noun – male – singular

hehe

pronoun – male – singular – subjective casepronoun – male – singular – subjective case

Tag-QuestionTag-Question

Point 2Point 2 (continued) (continued)

Ted and JerryTed and Jerry got their books, didn’t got their books, didn’t ? ?‘‘Ted and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – Ted and Jerry’ – Proper nouns – male – pluralplural

theythey

Personal Pronoun – male -- pluralPersonal Pronoun – male -- plural

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions Point 3Point 3

The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the The verb in the ‘tag’ part depends on the verb in the main sentence: verb in the main sentence:

If the verb in the main sentence is in If the verb in the main sentence is in PositivePositive form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will form, the verb in the ‘tag’ part will be in be in NegativeNegative form. form.

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

• Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued)

• She She isis your sister, she? your sister, she?““is” – main verb – Simple Present Tense –is” – main verb – Simple Present Tense –POSITIVEPOSITIVE

isn’tisn’t

– – Simple present tense – Simple present tense – NEGATIVENEGATIVE

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions

Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued)

Brad Brad hasn’t hasn’t done his work, he?done his work, he?

‘‘hasn’t’ – Present perfect – hasn’t’ – Present perfect – NEGATIVENEGATIVE

hashas

Present perfect -- Present perfect -- POSITIVEPOSITIVE

Tag-QuestionsTag-Questions Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued) Kate Kate goesgoes to school, she? to school, she?

‘‘goes’ – Simple present – goes’ – Simple present – POSITIVEPOSITIVE‘‘does not go’ – Simple present – does not go’ – Simple present – NEGATIVENEGATIVE

doesn’tdoesn’tPoint 4Point 4

The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ The negative form of the verb in the ‘tag’ part is always contracted: part is always contracted: does not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = does not = doesn’t; has not = hasn’t; will not = won’twon’t

Tag-questionsTag-questions

Point 3Point 3 (continued) (continued)

James James did not godid not go to school, he? to school, he? ‘‘did not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVEdid not go’ – Simple past – NEGATIVE

‘‘go’ – Simple past – Positive; go’ – Simple past – Positive; however, in ‘tag’ part, the auxiliary however, in ‘tag’ part, the auxiliary (helping) verb alone is used:(helping) verb alone is used:did did

Tag-questionsTag-questions

• Point 5Point 5 -- Word order -- Word order

• In the statement sentence (in the In the statement sentence (in the main sentence) the subject comes main sentence) the subject comes first and the verb comes next; but in first and the verb comes next; but in the ‘tag’ part, the verb comes first the ‘tag’ part, the verb comes first and the subject comes next, just as and the subject comes next, just as in the interrogative sentence.in the interrogative sentence.

Tag-QuestionTag-Question

Point 5Point 5 – word order (continued) – word order (continued)

For example:For example:

A woman fainted, didn’t she?A woman fainted, didn’t she?

Main sentenceMain sentence

‘‘tag’ parttag’ partSubject first; verb nextSubject first; verb next

Verb first; subject nextVerb first; subject next