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Tags 

In this lesson we learn about tag questions and sentences, focusing on how they add emphasis, seek agreement, or confirm information. Improve with clear explanations and examples.

interrogativestags
Tags in the English Grammar

What Are Tags?

Tags are short additions that look like either questions or imperatives and are added to a clause to get a response from the listener or check if the listener agrees with what was said. Tags are very common in spoken English, but not in formal written English.

Tags: Types

There are different types of tags in spoken English:

Question tags

Imperative tags

Universal tags

Question Tags

Question tags consist of an auxiliary and a subject and come at the end of a sentence. Question tags are used to invite a response from the listener. They are very common in spoken English.

Question Tags: Type 1

The basic structure of a question tag is:

positive statement + negative tag

negative statement + positive tag

Example

He is an actor, isn't he?

You don't like ice cream, do you?

Negative Adverbs

Some adverbs like never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely, and scarcely have a negative meaning. If they are used in a statement, the meaning of the whole statement becomes negative; therefore, a positive question tag is used.

Example

He hardly knew his mom, did he?

She never wanted a car, did she?

Tag Questions: Type 2

The type 2 question tags consist of an affirmative main clause and an affirmative tag. These question tags are used when the speaker is not sure whether the answer is yes or no. The intonation is usually a rising tone.

Example

You're Alan's brother, are you?

Question Tags: Form

Question tags are added to the end of a statement. If the sentence includes the auxiliary verb 'be', 'have', or a modal, they are used as the verb in the tag as well.

Example

She is really angry, isn't she?

You have met Hank, haven't you?

He can't sing, can he?

When the main verb is in the present simple or past simple tense, the auxiliary verb 'do' is added to form the tag. For example:

Example

He plays the piano, doesn't he?

You wanted to win, didn't you?

Tip!

In negative tags, normally the contracted form is used.

ThumbnailPhoto

Exceptions

If the verb of the main clause is "am", the negative tag uses "aren't".

Example

Well, I am here now, aren't I?

If the modal verb of the main clause is 'ought to', the tag uses should.

Example

He ought to call Mary, shouldn't he?

If the sentence begins with the verb phrase "Let's", the tag will be "shall we".

Example

Let's go watch a movie, shall we?

If the subject of the sentence is a demonstrative pronoun (this/that/these/those), the tag uses "it" for singular demonstratives and "they" for plural demonstratives.

Example

This is Sally's dog, isn't it?

When the sentence includes a dependent clause, the tag might correspond with the dependent clause instead of the main clause. This mainly happens when the main verb of the main clause is a reporting or cognition verb and the main meaning of the sentence is expressed by the dependent clause.

Example

I think that she's coming, isn't she?

While the subject of the main clause is "I", the tag follows the dependent clause "she's coming".

I believe what he said was true, wasn't it?

Question Tags: Intonation

The intonation of question tags can either be rising or falling. Question tags with rising intonation sound like real questions. But question tags with falling intonation sound more like statements that do not require a real response.

Example

You don't know where my wallet is, do you?

Rising intonation: a real question

It's a beautiful view, isn't it?

Falling intonation: not a real question

Answering Question Tags

Normally, we answer a question tag:

1.

with just 'Yes' or 'No'

2.

by repeating the tag and reversing it

Example

- 'He doesn't work here, does he?' + 'Yes, he does.'

- 'They are your parents, aren't they?' + 'No, they're not.' Or 'No, they aren't.'

Imperative Tags

Imperative tags soften the tone of the imperative sentence. The verb in the tag is most commonly 'will' but other modals like 'would', 'could', 'can', and 'won't' can also be used.
While 'won't' is used for invitations, 'can, can't, will, would' are used with orders.

Example

Close the door, will you?

Wait here a moment, would you?

Universal Tags

Question tags can be formed in another way and that involves using 'right', 'yes', 'yeah', and 'no' in informal contexts. For example:

Example

He's not playing tonight, right?

You're Carla's sister, yeah?

Review

There are four types of tags as follows:

1.

Question tags

2.

Imperative tags

3.

Universal tags

statement

question tag

The baby is so cute,

isn't he?

imperative sentence

imperative tag

Come a little closer,

will you?

statement

universal tag

You're still coming to the party,

right?

Quiz:

1.

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a question tag?

A

She can drive, don't she?

B

He wasn't there, was he?

C

They never go swimming, don't they?

D

We are late, don't we?

2.

Sort the word to form an imperative tag.

,
here
you
?
moment
a
wait
will
3.

Match each statement in Column A with its correct tag in Column B.

The baby is so cute,
Come a little closer,
You're coming with us,
She is not happy,
is she?
isn't he?
will you?
right?
4.

Fill in the blank with the correct question or imperative tag.

Pass the salt,

you?

She never eats meat,

?

You're going to the concert tonight,

?

You haven't seen that movie yet,

?

We should leave now,

?

Let's go for a walk,

?

5.

Which sentence uses the correct tag with a dependent clause as the object of the statement?

A

I believe that he is coming, isn’t he?

B

I suppose she knows the truth, don’t I?

C

I think he is not a good person, isn't he?

D

We believe the event was successful, don't we?

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