Adding Question Tags to Sentences
Adding Question Tags to Sentences :
A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini- question. The whole sentence is a tag question and the mini-question at the end is called a question tag.
A tag is something small that we add to something larger.
We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation.
They mean something like….
Am I right?
Do you agree?
The basic structure is…
Positive statement : The Earth is a sphere.
Negative tag : Isn’t it?
Negative statement : You don’t like potatoes.
Positive tag : Do you?
Look at these examples with positive statements.
1. You are the eldest. Aren’t you?
2. We have two teachers for English. Haven’t we?
3. You do all the typing work for your office. Don’t you?
Look at these examples with negative statements.
1. It isn’t Sunday today. Is it?
2. You don’t have my book. Do you?
3. The Police will not arrest the innocent. Will they?
4. I can never leave early. Can I?
SOME SPECIAL CASES
1. I am right. Aren’t I?
2. You have to go. Don’t you?
3. I have been answering. Haven’t I?
4. Nothing came in the post. Did it?
Statements with nothing, nobody and so on should be treated like negative statements.
Let’s go, shall we?
He’d better do it, hadn’t he?
In order to add a question tag…
We have to replace the full stop at the end of the sentence with a comma.
We have to add the negadve form or remove the negative form of the main verb of the sentence.
We have to keep to the same tense as the main verb in the sentence.
We have to add pronouns like he, she, it, they, we, you, I.
We have to add a quesdon mark.
The sentences with question tags :
1. Meera is the fastest runner in the class, is not she?
2. Mercury is not the biggest planet of the solar system, is it?
3. The grass is always greener on the other side, is not it?
4. Oliver asked for more food, did not he?
5. Your parents will not be back next week, will they?
6. Another name for an elephant is a pachyderm, is not it?
7. The walrus is not a very graceful animal, is it?
8. Sheela does not like to talk too much, does she?
9. Jamila and Prerna will be meeting us today, will they?
10. This cup of tea is too hot for me to drink, is it?
Adding Question Tags to Sentences
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