4. QUESTION TAGS
Question tags are used only in conversation or in informal letters written in a
conversational style. The rules concerning question tags are as follows: -1.
A positive statement is followed by a negative tag, and vice versa.
e.g. POSITIVE + NEGATIVE You're a student, aren't you?
NEGATIVE + POSITIVE
2.
You're not serious, are you?
The verb in the tag must be the same as the operator (e.g. the auxiliary verb) in the
statement.
e.g. You can come tonight, can't you?
He didn't come yesterday, did he?
You've met Peter Wong, haven't you?
They will be there, won't they?
Exceptions:
e.g. I am your friend, aren't I ?
He ought to be ashamed of himself, shouldn't he? (more common then oughtn't he)
3.
The tense in the tag must be the same as that in the statement.
4.
If the statement contains no operator, do/does/did is used.
e.g. You like him, don't you?
She sings well, doesn't she?
He came here yesterday, didn't he?
5.
An appropriate pronoun corresponding to the subject in the statement must be used
in the tag.
e.g. John has left, hasn't he?
6.
If the subject of the statement is an indefinite pronoun, then it is generally referred
to by they in the tag.
e.g. Everyone had a good time last night, didn't they?
No one wants to do it, do they?
Everybody wants to go to the Ocean Park, don't they?
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7.
Negative words (e.g. nobody, never, nowhere, no one, none, etc.) and semi-negative
words (e.g. seldom, rarely, hardly, scarcely, little, few, only, and barely) take a
positive tag.
e.g. You've never been here, have you?
You found nobody there, did you?
Few people want to go, do they?
There is very little choice for us, is there?
You rarely go to the cinema, do you?
8.
In contrast to little and few, a little and a few are positive in meaning and therefore
require a negative tag.
e.g. John Chan has made a little progress, hasn't he?
There are a few coins in the drawer, aren't there?
9.
A question tag can have either a falling intonation or a rising intonation.
e.g. He's a nice man, isn't he?
A tag with a falling intonation (like the one above) merely seeks confirmation from the
listener, and the whole sentence is more like an exclamation than a genuine question.
e.g.
Statement + Tag
He's a nice man, isn't he?
(+)
Yes, he is.
(-)
He's not a nice man, is he?
(-)
Expected Answer
No, he isn't.
(+)
10. A tag with a rising intonation is used if the speaker is not completely certain about
the truth of the statement and wants to invite the listener's response to it.
e.g. You like him, don't you?
Possible answers to the question:
e.g. Yes, (of course) I do.
No, (I'm afraid) I don't.
11.
Be careful when deciding whether to use a positive or a negative tag with verbs like
suppose or think.
e.g. I don't think he cares, does he?
(Compare: He doesn't care, does he?)
I suppose he's not well, is he?
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12. Dare, need and used to often cause trouble because they can be full verbs or special
finites.
e.g.
Statement
Tag
He dare not come,
dare he?(Dare as special finite)
He does not dare to come,
does he? (Dare as full verb.)
He need not stay here,
need he? (Need as special finite)
He does not need to stay here,
does he? (Need as full verb.)
You used to live in Shatin,
didn't you? (Better)
usedn't you? (Rarely used)
13. There is a special type of question tag in which both the statement and the tag are
positive or negative. The attitude of the speaker may range from casual inquiry to
sarcastic suspicion.
e.g. So it's raining outside, is it?
You've gone out with that teddy boy again, have you?
So that's the little trick you've been playing on me, is it?
Oh, I mustn't do it, mustn't I?
The tag always has a rising intonation.
14. A different type of question tag may be used to express suggestions, requests or
entreaties.
e.g. Let's go, shall we?
Sit down, will you?/ won't you?
Have another cup of coffee, won't you?/ will you?
Listen to me, won't you?/ will you?
EXERCISE
1.
I don't think there id much of a risk, _____________?
2. I am your friend, __________________?
3. He never goes there at night, ___________________?
4. She left early, _______________________?
5. They don't know each other, _______________________?
6. You don't have to work on Saturdays, ______________________?
7. He hurt himself in the match, ________________________?
8. None of the boys wants to join the choir, ___________________?
9. None of the boys want to join the choir, _____________________?
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10.
Everybody is happy, ________________________?
11.
None of these cars is good enough, _______________________?
12.
None of these cars are good enough, ____________________?
13.
You have to study tonight, ______________________?
14.
Peter has made little progress in his studies, ____________________?
15.
Peter has made a little progress in his studies, ___________________?
16.
You seldom see her, __________________?
17.
He rarely visits his brother, _____________________?
18.
I suppose you're not serious, ______________________?
19.
Let's go to the Peak, __________________?
20.
Close the door, ________________________?
21.
Let's have a party, _______________________?
22.
I don't suppose he cares, ____________________?
23.
He dare not say it to my face, _____________________?
24.
He doesn't dare to admit it, ________________________?
25.
I needn't have come, _____________________________?
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