QUESTION TAGS

QUESTION TAGS INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

BE CAREFULI'm in the advanced class, aren't I?Let's sort out this ordering problem, shall we?

There were many people, weren't they? Alice comes from Frnace, doesn't she?                                                                   You'll call us when you get there, won't you?  Brad can speak fluent Spanish, can't he?They weren't many people, were they? The doctor didn't say much, did he?She isn't going to marry him, is she?The girls haven't been ill again, have they?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT                 QUESTION TAG   positive               negative  negative              positive

unlike the question  tags:positive -> positivenegative -> negative

QUESTION TAGS ADVANCED LEVEL

VARIATIONS: He doesn't need to repeat the year, does he? = He needn't repeat the year, need he?It may/might be fine tomorrow, mightn't it? He must have taken it, mustn't he?He can't have done it, can he?We really ought to leave now, oughtn't we / shouldn't we? Let's try that new restaurant, shall we? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IF A POSITIVE SENTENCE CONTAINS a negative or restrictive adverb E.G. scarcely, hardly, IT TAKES A POSITIVE TAG There was hardly enough food for everyone at the wedding, was there? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE PRONOUN IN THE TAG  usually MATCHES THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE This is a good example, isn't it? (this/it both singular)Those are good examples, aren't they? (those/they - both plural)Nothing ever happens when I'm away, does it? EXCEPTIONS!!!Someone's been taking my food again, haven't they?Nobody has phoned, have they? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                             

NOBODY/ NOTHING is a 'negative' so the question tag is positive

IMPERATIVE  - the form of the tag depends on its PURPOSE Open the door for me, would you?Pick me up at eight, could you? Stay another night with us, won't you? Turn the TV off, will you? Don't annoy your mother, will you? (WHEN YOU'RE USING A NEGATIVE IMPERATIVE YOU CAN ONLY USE 'WILL YOU' AS A TAG)I will call the doctor, shall I?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXTRA 1

We can use a positive question tag with a positive statement when we seek confirmation or we want to show interest, surprise or anger (compare with reply questions)A: I'm sorry but I have to cancel this evening. I'm really busy and I'm still at work.B: Poor you. Things are still really hectic, are they? (to express sympathy)

EXTRA 2positive REPLY QUESTIONS - to show interest; surprise; make the conversation 'flow' A: My computer's been causing problems all week.                 A: The doctor didn't say the headaches are caused by stress. B: Has it? What's wrong?                                                         B: Didn't he? I wonder if he was right.negative REPLY QUESTIONS - to show an emphatic agreement with the speakerA: That was the best holiday we've ever had!B: Yes, wasn't it?ECHO QUESTIONS - to clarify something that the speaker said or askedA: Have you been to the Earth Centre?                        A: I went to Meg's yesterday.B: Have I been to what / where?                                 B: You went where?

EXTRA 3DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISHBrE       HAVE      Oliver has a lot of friends, hasn't he / doesn't he?AmE     HAVE      Oliver has a lot of friends, doesn't he?

INDIRECT QUESTIONS - another question within a question or statement

Q TAGS

INDIRECT Q