Tag Questions
It’s a tag question,
isn’t it ?
Марванова Елена Раисовна
учитель английского языка
ГБОУ № 1455 г.Москвы
Yes, it is.
Tag Questions
A tag question is a special construction in English.
It is a statement followed by a mini-question.
You speak English, don’t you?
This is a lovely town, isn't it?
The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question
at the end is called a "question tag".
A "tag" is something small that we add to something larger.
For example, the little piece of cloth added to a shirt showing size or
washing instructions is a tag.
Elena Marvanova
Question tag: uses
Tag Questions
Main points:
• You use statements with tags to show reactions, to ask for
information.
Sasha has been to Great Britain before, hasn’t he?
• You can use negative statement with positive question tag to
make requests.
You can’t help me, can you?
• You use some questions tags to make imperative more
polite.
You won’t be late, will you?
Elena Marvanova
Question tag: forms
Tag Questions
Main points:
• You add a question tag to a statement to turn it into question.
• A question tag consists of a verb & a pronoun. The verb in
question tag is always an auxiliary, a modal or a form of the
main verb ‘to be’
do / don’t ,
can / can’t,
did / didn’t ,
is / isn’t,
will / won’t ,
are / aren’t,
have/ haven’t ,
ect
• With a positive statement, you usually use a negative question
tag containing a short form ending in “n’t”
• With a negative statement, you always use a positive question
tag.
Elena Marvanova
Question tag: forms
Elena Marvanova
Tag Questions
Tag Questions
Statements with negative adverbs
The adverbs never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and
scarcely have a negative sense. Even though they are 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.
He never came again, did he?
She rarely comes, does she?
You hardly ever come late, do you?
I barely know you, do I?
You can scarcely expect her to know that, can you?
Elena Marvanova
Be polite:
Tag Questions
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?
Tag Questions
Responses to tag questions:
Responses to tag questions may be given in the form of short
"yes" or "no" answers or in the form of full statements.
Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation,
the answer may be negative.
- Ann was in England a year ago, wasn't you?
- Yes, she was. / No, she wasn’t.
- Nick doesn’t go to school on Saturdays, does he?
- No, he doesn’t. / Yes, he does.
Elena Marvanova
Some more special cases:
Elena Marvanova
Tag Questions
Tag Questions
Here are some mixed examples:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
But you don't really love her, do you?
This will work, won't it?
Well, I couldn't help it, could I?
But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you?
We'd never have known, would we?
The weather's bad, isn't it?
Tom won't be late, will he?
* Nobody knows, do they?
Elena Marvanova
Intonation, pronunciation:
Tag Questions
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:
Use falling intonation in the first part and rising or falling
intonation in the second part of the tag question.
Intonation, pronunciation:
Ex.1 Real question.
Tag Questions
Practise saying these sentences and question tags with rising intonation on the
question tag. You can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or to check your
intonation.
You couldn't lend me twenty pounds, could you?
You don't know if Peter is here, do you?
They are going to get married, aren't they?
You aren't going out in this terrible weather, are you?
We don't have to go now, do we?
She's from Canada, isn't she?
You haven't seen Peter today, have you?
I could finish this later, couldn't I?
Intonation, pronunciation:
Ex.2 Checking information
or making conversation
Tag Questions
Practise saying these sentences and tag questions with falling intonation on the
question tag. You can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or to check your
intonation. .
This is a lovely town, isn't it?
The weather last night was terrible, wasn't it?
They can't sing at all, can they?
We'll never be able to eat all that pizza, will we?
She hates him, doesn't she?
She's a wonderful woman, isn't she?
The shops are open late tonight, aren't they?
We shouldn't leave the party too early, should we?
Let’s do next exercise:
Tag Questions

It is an interesting programme, …?
isn’t she?

He will stay with his family, …?
won’t he?

There is not a local school in this street, …? don’t they?

She is responsible for the tickets, …?
can he?

They always arrange a school party, …?
isn’t it?
He can’t bring an invitation letter, …?
is there?

Elena Marvanova
Tag Questions
 Match next question tags
Tag Questions
 Mix & Match, please
Match up the answers.
Tag Questions
Tag Questions

You wanted that, .......... ?

You know that's right .......... ?

He wil be coming .......... ?

You won't report me, .......... ?

Be quiet for a moment,

Ann has never been in London, ……..?
a) would you
a) aren’t you
a) will you
a) won’t you
a) will you
a)isn’t she
Elena Marvanova
b) didn’t you
c) aren’t you
d) do you
b) didn’t you
c) won’t you
d) do you
b) didn’t you
b) did you
b) don’t you
b) was she
c) won’t you
c) will you
d) do you
c) won’t you
c) has she
d) don’t you
d) do you
d) hasn’t she
Add the tags, please
Tag Questions
Complete the questions
& the answers.
Tag Questions
didn’t they
No, I shouldn’t
does she?
No, he won’t
can’t she ?
No, I haven’t
should you ?
No, she doesn’t
hasn’t he?
Yes, I would.
Yes, they did.
Yes, she can.
wouldn’t you?
Yes, we could.
couldn’t we ?
will the?
Yes, he has
have you?
Examples with positive statements:
Examples with positive statements:
Tag Questions
Elena Marvanova
Links & resources
Tag Questions
REASOURCES & LINKS:
 Enjoy English 5th by M. Biboletova “Titul”, Moscow.
 Collins Cobuild Student’s Grammar. Practice materials
by Dave Willis. Harper Collins Publishers.
 www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish ( intonation,
pronunciation)
 www.englishclub.com ( explanation)
 www.esl-galaxy.com (board game)
 www.headsupenglish.com ( explanation)
 www.shutterstock.com ( images)
 www.englishgramarsecrets.com ( exercises)
 PowerPoint presentation (of my own )