Verbs: question tags
Question tags are very common in spoken English. We use them in two different ways:
1. To make a conversation
- Tom: It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
In this example, the speaker is not asking a real question. (He already knows if it is a nice day or not!) He just wants the other person to agree with him. Here, we use the falling intonation.
- Sally: You like pizza, don’t you?
If Sally is sure that the other person likes pizza – perhaps she’s talking to a good friend – her intonation falls, too.
2. To check that you are right
- Sally: You like pizza, don’t you?
If Sally is not sure, her intonation rises. This is more similar to a real question.
Structure of question tags
1. When the sentence is positive, the tag is usually negative.
- It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
- You like pizza, don’t you?
When the sentence is negative, the tag is usually positive.
- He doesn’t speak Spanish, does he?
- They didn’t go to the cinema, did they?
2. When the verb ‘to be’ is the main verb, we use it in the question tag:
- It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?
- You’re from China, aren’t you?
3. The verb in the statement should be the same tense as the verb in the tag.
- You are a good singer, aren’t you?
- You didn’t go to work yesterday, did you?
- You have been to London, haven’t you?
4. Be careful when the sentence starts with ‘I am…’ because the tag is ‘aren’t I?’
- I’m late, aren’t I?
- I’m right, aren’t I?
5. If there is an auxiliary verb in the sentence, we use it in the question tag:
- He doesn’t speak Spanish, does he?
- They aren’t coming to the party, are they?
- You have been to Australia, haven’t you?
6. If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, we use an appropriate form of ‘do’:
- You like pizza, don’t you?
- You watched TV last night, didn’t you?
7. If there is a modal verb in the sentence, we use it in the question tag:
- He can ski, can’t he?
- This shouldn’t take long, should it?