Question tags, e.g. isn't it?

A Use

Melanie: It's a lovely day, isn't it?

Harriet: Beautiful. We're having a glorious summer, aren't we?

Melanie: You haven't heard a forecast for the weekend, have you?

Harriet: No, I haven't, but I think it's going to stay sunny.

A question tag is a short question added on to a statement. When a tag is spoken, the voice can go down or up.

FALLING RISING

It's a lovely day, isn't it? You haven't heard a forecast, have you?

With a falling intonation, the speaker thinks the With a rising intonation, the speaker is less sure,

statement is true. Melanie knows that it is a lovely Melanie doesn't know if Harriet has heard a

day, and she is inviting Harriet to continue the weather forecast or not. The tag is more like a real

conversation. The tag is not really a question. question.

B Form

POSITIVE STATEMENT + NEGATIVE TAG NEGATIVE STATEMENT + POSITIVE TAG

It is very warm, isn't it? It isn't very warm, is it?
A negative tag is an auxiliary verb + n't + A positive tag is an auxiliary verb + pronoun,
pronoun.

You've played before, haven't you? David hasn't got a car, has he?

The children can swim, can't they? I shouldn't laugh, should I?

It'll be dark soon, won't it? You aren't ill, are you?

There was a mistake, wasn't there? The answer wasn't right, was it?

The pronoun (you, he, etc) refers to the subject of the sentence, e.g. you, David. In the present simple and past simple we use a form of do.

You live near here, don't you? We don't have to pay, do we?

This coat looks nice, doesn't it? The shower doesn't work, does it?

I turned right, didn't I? Your horse didn't win, did it?

The answer yes means that the positive is true, and no means that the negative is true. Mark works for Zedco, doesn't he? ~ Yes, he does. (He works for Zedco.) Melanie doesn't eat meat, does she? ~ Fes, / think she does. (She eats meat.) Claire is married, isn't she? ~ No, of course she isn't. (She isn't married.) Andrew hasn't got many friends, has he? ~ No. (He hasn't got many friends.)

C Requests and suggestions

After a request with an imperative (e.g. Wait ...), we can use can you? or could you?

Wait here a moment, can you? Give me an example, could you? We can also use You couldn't..., could you? or You haven't..., have you? for a request.

You couldn't help me, could you? You haven't got a pound, have you? After Don't... the tag is will you?: Don't make any noise, will you? After Let's ... we use shall we?: Let's sit in the garden, shall we?

page 379 Question tags in American English

42 Exercises

1 Use (A)

Look carefully at each statement and tag. Say if it is more likely to be a comment (with falling intonation) or a question (with rising intonation).

► This price list is up to date, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. a question

1 It was a super show, wasn't it? ~ Great. I really enjoyed it.

2 These sweaters are nice, aren't they? ~ I like this one.

3 We've got time for a coffee, haven't we? ~ A quick one maybe.

4 Let me see, the bus goes at ten past, doesn't it? ~ Quarter past

2 Form(B)

You are at a barbecue. Add tags to help start a friendly conversation.

? These sausages are delicious, aren't they⁷. ~ They certainly are.

? You haven't lived here long, have you ? ~ No, only three months.

1 It's quite a big garden, ......................................... ? ~ Yes, there's plenty of room.

2 There aren't many people here yet,........................ ? ~ No, but it's still quite early.

3 You're Rachel's friend,....................................... ? ~ Yes, I'm Vicky.

4 You came in a sports car, ......................................... ? ~ That's right.

5 These burgers look good,............................................ ? ~ I can't wait to try them.

6 We can sit on the grass,............................................ ? ~ I think it's dry enough.

7 The weather forecast wasn't very good, ……………………………..? ~ No, it wasn't.

3 Form(B)

Complete the conversation. Put in the question tags.

Emma: You don't really want to go out with me any more, (►) do you⁷.

Matthew: Of course I do. But I need a bit of time to myself sometimes.

Emma: You get plenty of time to yourself, (1)................................................ ?

Matthew: Emma, you know what I feel for you.

I've told you enough times, (2) .............................................. ?

Emma: Yes, you have. And you're quite happy, (3) ............................................ ?

You don't mind, (4).......................................... ?

The situation doesn't bother you, (5) ............................................... ?

Matthew: Why are we arguing? There's nothing to argue about, (6)………………………….... ?

Emma: You can't ever look at things from my point of view, (7)............... ……………………... ?

4 Requests and suggestions (C)

What would you say in these situations? Write sentences with a question tag. Use the word in brackets. ► You want to look at a newspaper. Daniel might have one, so ask him. (haven't) You haven't got a newspaper, have you?

1 Suggest to Vicky that you both listen to some music. (Let's)

2 Warn David not to do anything silly. (Don't)

3 You need a train timetable. Emma might have one, so ask her. (haven't)

4 Ask Rachel to pass you the salt. (Pass)

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2014