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QUESTIONTAGS

This document discusses question tags, which are phrases added to the end of statements to turn them into questions seeking approval, confirmation, or correction. It provides examples of question tags and outlines five rules for using them correctly: 1) using a comma and question mark, 2) repeating the auxiliary verb, 3) using "do" as the auxiliary if there is none, 4) repeating or changing the subject pronoun, and 5) making the tag negative if the statement is positive and vice versa. It also discusses contractions and exceptions for certain auxiliary verbs. Exercises are provided to practice applying the rules.

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226 views7 pages

QUESTIONTAGS

This document discusses question tags, which are phrases added to the end of statements to turn them into questions seeking approval, confirmation, or correction. It provides examples of question tags and outlines five rules for using them correctly: 1) using a comma and question mark, 2) repeating the auxiliary verb, 3) using "do" as the auxiliary if there is none, 4) repeating or changing the subject pronoun, and 5) making the tag negative if the statement is positive and vice versa. It also discusses contractions and exceptions for certain auxiliary verbs. Exercises are provided to practice applying the rules.

Uploaded by

tinevimbo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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QUESTION TAGS

QUESTION TAGS
A question tag or a tag question is a phrase that is added at the end of a
statement to turn into a question. When a speaker uses a question tag at the
end of a statement, he/she is seeking for approval, confirmation or correction.
Examples:
APPROVAL: I look smart today, don’t I? Yes you do.
CORFIRMATION: These are the new students, aren’t they? Yes they are.
CORRECTION: I paid your money yesterday, didn’t I? No you didn’t.
Many learners face a problem of supplying the correct question tags to
sentences. This is because they fail to observe the following rules of question
tags:
1. A comma must be put to separate the statement with the
question tag. A
question mark must be placed at the end of the question tag.
Examples:
Rufftone has released a new album, hasn’t he?
He is pushing for a decision by tomorrow, isn’t he?
2. The auxiliary verb in the statement must be repeated in the
question tag
Examples:
Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years, wasn’t he?
The people of South Africa have lost a great hero, haven’t they?
3. When there is no auxiliary verb in the statement, the appropriate form of
the auxiliary verb Do must be used in the question tag
Examples:
Mark Francis wakes up very early, doesn’t he?
Peter Bryan bought an I-pad phone, didn’t he?
4. The subject in the statement must be repeated in the question tag. If it is
a noun in the statement, it changes to the appropriate pronoun. If it is a
pronoun in the statement, it remains a pronoun in the question tag.
Examples:
Fatou Bensouda is a prosecutor in ICC, isn’t she?
She does her work meticulously, doesn’t she?
5. When the statement is positive (i.e. It does not have the word not in it),
the question tag must be negative (i.e. must use the negative word not) and
vice versa.
Examples:
David Rudisha has broken another record, hasn’t he?
Catherine Ndereba hasn’t been very active, has she?
Douglas Wakiihuri does not run any more, does he?
You will note from the above examples that the auxiliary verb is usually
contracted (joined) with the negative indicator not when using question tags.
However, this does not apply when using primary auxiliary verb am and the
modal auxiliary verbs will and shall. Am does not allow contraction with not,
will and shall usually change their forms to allow contraction.
Examples:
WRONG: I am the next speaker, amn’t I?
CORRECT: I am the next speaker, am I not?
WRONG: They will be late for church, willn’t they?
CORRECT: They will be late for church, won’t they?
WRONG: We shall attend the Memorial service, willn’t we?
CORRECT: We shall attend the memorial service, shan’t we?
7. For sentences that are in form of requests and commands, the
question
tags will commonly tak6. Whereas there is no inversion in the statement,
inversion must occur in the
question tag i.e. the auxiliary verb comes before the subject
Examples:
President Uhuru Kenyatta has won the case, hasn’t he?
Subject verb verb subject
He can now relax and attend to his duties, can’t he?
Subject verb verb subject
e the auxiliary verb will or shall followed by the
appropriate pronoun.
• Please help me with your pen, will you?
• Let us go for a swim, shall we?
• Bring me that chair, will you?
• Stop that noise, will you?
• Kneel down right away, will you?
• Those are the rules that govern question tags and if
followed well, the
• learners will not have any problems with question
tags
Exercise 1
Supply the appropriate question tags in the following sentences.
1.The marriage caused a rupture in her relationship with her mother,
_____________?
2.She didn’t think anyone would be interested in a woman like her,
_______________?
3.The troops are on standby in case chaos erupt, _________?
4.The Prime Minister must take a firm stand against extremists in his party,
_________?
5.I am the best so far, ____________________?
6.The amendments will strengthen the bill, __________?
7.The new tax is tantamount to stealing from the poor, ____?
8.Please send all your remarks to Prof Kibwana as soon as possible,
_______________?
9.She raised the gun and pulled the trigger,______________?
10.We need to learn to prioritize, __________________?

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