Tag questions are questions formed by adding a short question to the end of a statement. There are rules for forming tag questions in English based on whether the statement is positive or negative. Non-native English speakers sometimes get confused answering tags incorrectly. The document provides examples of correctly answering various tag questions and discusses special cases like negative adverbs, intonation, imperatives, same-way tags, and mixed examples.
Tag questions are questions formed by adding a short question to the end of a statement. There are rules for forming tag questions in English based on whether the statement is positive or negative. Non-native English speakers sometimes get confused answering tags incorrectly. The document provides examples of correctly answering various tag questions and discusses special cases like negative adverbs, intonation, imperatives, same-way tags, and mixed examples.
Tag questions are questions formed by adding a short question to the end of a statement. There are rules for forming tag questions in English based on whether the statement is positive or negative. Non-native English speakers sometimes get confused answering tags incorrectly. The document provides examples of correctly answering various tag questions and discusses special cases like negative adverbs, intonation, imperatives, same-way tags, and mixed examples.
Tag questions are questions formed by adding a short question to the end of a statement. There are rules for forming tag questions in English based on whether the statement is positive or negative. Non-native English speakers sometimes get confused answering tags incorrectly. The document provides examples of correctly answering various tag questions and discusses special cases like negative adverbs, intonation, imperatives, same-way tags, and mixed examples.
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Answering Tag Questions
How do we answer a tag question? Often, we just say Yes or No. Sometimes we may repeat the tag and reverse it (They don't live here, do they? Yes, they do). Be very careful about answering tag questions. In some languages, an opposite system of answering is used, and non-native English speakers sometimes answer in the wrong way. This can lead to a lot of confusion!
Answer a tag question according to the truth of the situation. Your answer reflects the real facts, not (necessarily) the question.
For example, everyone knows that snow is white. Look at these questions, and the correct answers:
correct tag question notes answer
Snow is white, Yes (it is). isn't it? Answer is same in both cases - because snow is Snow isn't white! Yes it is! white, is it? But notice change of stress when answerer does not agree with Snow is black, No it isn't questioner. isn't it? ! Answer is same in both cases - because snow is Snow isn't No (it not black! black, is it? isn't).
In some languages, people answer a question like "Snow isn't black, is it?" with "Yes" (meaning "Yes, I agree with you"). This is the wrong answer in English! Here are some more examples, with correct answers: •The moon goes round the earth, doesn't it? Yes, it does. •The earth is bigger than the moon, isn't it? Yes. •The earth is bigger than the sun, isn't it? No, it isn't! •Asian people don't like rice, do they? Yes, they do! •Elephants live in Europe, don't they? No, they don't! •Men don't have babies, do they? No. •The English alphabet doesn't have 40 letters, does it? No, it doesn't.
Tag Question Special Cases
Negative adverbs The adverbs never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and scarcely have a negative sense. Even though they may be in a positive statement, the feeling of the statement is negative. We treat statements with these words like negative statements, so the question tag is normally positive. Look at these examples:
positive statement positive
treated as negative statement tag
He never came again, did he?
She can rarely come these days, can she?
You hardly ever came late, did you?
I barely know you, do I?
You would scarcely expect her to know would
that, you?
Intonation
We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer:
intonation
You don't know where my wallet do /
real question is, you? rising
\ isn't not a real It's a beautiful view, fallin it? question g
Imperatives Sometimes we use question tags with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won't for invitations. We use can, can't, will, would for orders.
imperative + question notes tag
Take a seat, won't you? polite invitation
Help me, can you? quite friendly
Help me, can't you? quite friendly (some irritation?)
Close the door, would
quite polite you?
Do it now, will you. less polite
with negative imperatives only will is
Don't forget, will you. possible
Same-way tag questions
Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is
sometimes possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-way tag questions to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions. Look at these positive-positive tag questions: •So you're having a baby, are you? That's wonderful! •So you think that's funny, do you? Think again. Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile: •So you don't like my cats, don't you? (British English)
Asking for information or help
Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request. For example, instead of saying "Where is the police station?" (not very polite), or "Do you know where the police station is?" (slightly more polite), we could say: "You wouldn't know where the police station is, would you?" Here are some more examples: •You don't know of any good jobs, do you? •You couldn't help me with my homework, could you? •You haven't got $10 to lend me, have you?
Some more special cases
example notes
I am right, aren't I? aren't I (not amn't I)
You have to go, don't you? you (do) have to go...
I have been answering, haven't
use first auxiliary I?
Nothing came in the treat statements with nothing, nobody etc like negative post, did it? statements
Let's go, shall we? let's = let us
He'd better do it, hadn't he? he had better (no auxiliary)
Mixed Examples of Tag Questions
Here is a list of examples of tag questions in different contexts. Notice that some are "normal" and others seem to break all the rules: •But you don't really love her, do you? •This'll work, won't it? •Oh you think so, do you? •Well, I couldn't help it, could I? •But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you? •The weather's bad, isn't it? •You won't be late, will you? •Nobody knows, do they? •You never come on time, do you? •You couldn't help me, could you? •You think you're clever, do you? •So you don't think I can do it, don't you? (British English) •Shut up, will you!
