III. Rewrite the following sentences, using question tags.

Special Cases on the Use of Question Tags.

1. Sentences containing negative adverbs: “never, rarely, scarcely, hardly, barely” etc. are followed by affirmative question-tags:

He never panics, does he?

You hardly ever play the piano, do you?

1. “Little” and “Few” have the same effect on sentences:

There’s little chance of changing the situation, is there?

He’s got very few mistakes in his test, has he?

1. Negative pronouns like “nothing, nobody” etc. make sentences negative in a similar way to “not”. Consequently, these sentences are used with affirmative question-tags.

The pronoun “it” is used to avoid repeating “nothing” and “they” is used for “nobody”.

Nothing can stop them now, can it?

Nobody phoned while I was out, did they?

“They” is also used to refer to “somebody, everyone, everybody”

Everybody is here, aren’t they?

1. After a request with an imperative, “can you/could you” or “will you/won’t you” are used:

Wait a minute, can you? (could you?)

Give me a hand, will you?

Do sit down, won’t you?

After “Don’t…” the tag “will you?” is always used:

Don’t make any noise, will you?

After “Let’s…” “shall we?” is used:

Let’s sit in the garden, shall we?

1. In American English the words “right” or “OK” are often used as tags:

I’ll bring the baggage in, OK?

1. In sentences with constructions “This/That is…” we use “isn’t it?” (not “isn’t that?”) in the question-tag:

That’s your wife over there, isn’t it?

7. After “I am”, the tag is “aren’t I?”

I’m exhausted, aren’t I?

Summary of verbs, used in tags

Question Tags – Out-of-Class Practice.

I. Add the question tags:

1. I’m younger than you, ____________________________________________________?
2. Don’t move, ____________________________________________________________?
3. Let’s dance, ____________________________________________________________?
4. That’s your sister over there, _______________________________________________?
5. Everyone enjoyed the party, ________________________________________________?
6. Do have some more tea, ___________________________________________________?
7. I’m not late, ____________________________________________________________?
8. Everyone is in the office, __________________________________________________?
9. We have little time, ______________________________________________________?
10. Don’t forget to give him a call, _____________________________________________?
11. She hardly ever goes out, __________________________________________________?
12. You are never happy______________________________________________________?
13. There’s no milk__________________________________________________________?
14. Nothing matters__________________________________________________________?
15. Nothing compares to you__________________________________________________?
16. Nobody likes her_________________________________________________________?
17. She hardly said anything___________________________________________________?
18. Somebody has forgotten a coat______________________________________________?
19. There’s enough time______________________________________________________?
20. I’m lazy________________________________________________________________?
21. Nothing can stop them____________________________________________________?
22. Give me a hand__________________________________________________________?
23. I’ll bring the luggage______________________________________________________?
24. That’s your wife over there_________________________________________________?
25. Let’s sit in the garden_____________________________________________________?
26. I’m in trouble___________________________________________________________?
27. She seldom opens this door________________________________________________?
28. Everybody has to come___________________________________________________?

II. Correct the mistakes:

1. It seems like a long time since I left Vancouver, isn’t it?
2. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t that?
3. It’s a small world, is it?
4. Tom works here, doesn’t Tom?
5. That’s a good idea, isn’t that?
6. I’m really helpful, am I not?
7. He rarely visits you, doesn’t he?
8. Stay here, don’t you?
9. She never writes to you, doesn’t she?
10. Everybody is here now, isn’t he?
11. She seldom receives visitors, doesn’t she?

III. Rewrite the following sentences, using question tags.

Model: We think that these people have lived here a long time.

These people have lived here a long time, haven’t they?

1. We believe this is a good building.____________________________________________
2. I have the impression that the owner takes good care of it._________________________
3. I have the impression he doesn’t talk very much._________________________________
4. I suppose nothing happened while I was out.____________________________________
5. I don’t think the rent will increase next year.____________________________________
6. I think I’m a bit younger than Sally.___________________________________________
7. Please, don’t forget about it._________________________________________________

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 2011