Question Tags

Leave a comment

27 March 2014 by jessjennison

Question tags are difficult for ESL learners, especialy if your student’s native language just uses the equivalent of adding ‘no?’ at the end of a sentence to get confirmation. Fortunately, the system for making question tags is fairly structured.

Purpose

Tag Questions are used when we are pretty certain that someone will agree with us. We use these questions for confirmation or emphasis.

•  That was a great movie, wasn’t it? (I really liked the movie. I can’t read my friend’s mind, but I’m pretty sure my friend will agree with me.)
• The test will be difficult, won’t it? (My friend and I are in a tough class, and all the tests so far have been difficult. I’m quite sure my friend will agree with me.)

 

Structure

1. Positive Vs. Negative Verbs:

Tell your students that the Tag is always the opposite of the Main Verb. If the Main Verb is positive, the Tag will be negative. If the Main Verb is negative, the Tag will be positive.

• He is funny, isn’t he?
• She didn’t finish her homework, did she?

 

2. Verbs without Auxiliaries:

Simple present verbs and simple past verbs form their Tags with do or did (in the same way that they use do, don’t, did, or didn’t for questions or negative sentences).

• They speak English fluently, don’t they?
• They don’t speak French fluently, do they?
• We ran for hours in gym class, didn’t we?
• We didn’t run for very long in gym class, did we?

*An exception is the verb To Be. This verb takes the opposite positive or negative form of the Main Verb, and the form depends on the subject.

• She is tired, isn’t she?
• You’re not finished, are you?
• He was on time, wasn’t he?
• They weren’t happy about the rain, were they?

 

3. Verbs with Auxiliaries:

It’s easy to form Tag Questions when the Main Verb has an Auxiliary Verb (or “helping verb”). Just use the opposite positive or negative form of the Auxiliary Verb.

• We won’t have time to finish, will we?
• He will call me tonight, won’t he?
• You haven’t seen this movie, have you?
• She has been studying English for five years, hasn’t she?

 

4. Verbs with Modals:

It’s also easy to form Tag Questions when the Main Verb has a Modal in front of it. Just use the opposite positive or negative form of the Modal.

• You can swim, can’t you?
• She couldn’t go to the party, could she?
• He should study, shouldn’t he?
• They shouldn’t drive after drinking, should they?

 

Be careful! Might and may are not used in Tag Questions, and must is also awkward. Avoid using these Modals in Tag Questions.

 

For Modal expressions like have to or be able to, the normal rules of simple present verbs and the Be verb apply.

• You have to study tonight, don’t you?
• You don’t have to study tonight, do you?
• She is able to sing, isn’t she?
• She isn’t able to sing, is she?

 

Exercise 1: Finish the following sentences with a tag question.

1. You can’t answer all the questions,
2. You will help me to do the dishes,
3. He believes you,
4. The teacher should explain the lesson,
5. The boy didn’t know the lesson,
6. Bob frightened you,
7. You can speak English well,
8. She couldn’t arrange that,
9. You won’t tell him,
10.  He shouldn’t do it,
11. Luciano Pavarotti is a great singer,
12. It isn’t very cold today,
13. Ms. Patton assigns a lot of homework,
14. I didn’t bring enough money,
15. The children won’t want to go to bed early,
16. You have already seen Braveheart,
17. The movie received several Oscars
18. We can’t keep our dog in the hotel room,
19. The Braves would like to win another World Series ,
20. Basketball players don’t have small feet,

 

Exercise 2: Ask your partner the following questions. When you have finished, confirm the answers using question tags.

1. What’s your favourite food?
2. Where have you travelled outside the country?
3. What is your dream job?
4. What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
5. Can you play an instrument?
6. How many cousins do you have?
7. What will you do this weekend?
8. What astrological sign are you?
9. Are you afraid of spiders?
10. Do you live in an apartment?
11. Would you like to travel around the world in the future?
12. Have you had a haircut recently?
13. Do you have a pet?
14. Have you been to the cinema this week?
15. Can you play an instrument?

 

For example:

• Student: What’s your favourite food?
• Teacher: May favourite food is pizza.
• Student: Your favourite food is pizza, isn’t it?
• Teacher: Yes, it is.