052 : Question tags (do you? isn’t it? etc.)

   A   

Study these examples:

 

Have you? and wasn't it? are question tags (= mini-questions that we often put on the end of a sentence in spoken English). In question tags, we use an auxiliary verb (have/was/will etc.).

 

 

We use do/does/did for the present and past simple (see Unit 51):

• 'Karen plays the piano, doesn't she?'  'Well, yes, but not very well.'
• 'You didn't lock the door, did you?'  'No, I forgot.'

 

 

   B   

Normally we use a negative question tag after a positive sentence:

positive sentence   +	negative tag
Kate will be here soon,	won't she?
There was a lot of traffic,	wasn't there?
Joe should pass the exam,	shouldn't he?

 

... and a positive question tag after a negative sentence:

negative sentence   +	positive tag
Kate won't be late,	will she?
They don't like us,	do they?
You haven't eaten yet,	have you?

 

Notice the meaning of yes and no in answer to a negative sentence:

• You're not going out today, are you?
  Yes. (= Yes, I am going out)
  No. (= No, I am not going out)

 

 

   C   

The meaning of a question tag depends on how you say it. If your voice goes down, you are not really asking a question; you are only inviting the listener to agree with you:

• 'It's a nice day, isn't it?' 'Yes, beautiful.'
• 'Paul doesn't look well today, does he?'  'No, he looks very tired.'
• 'Lisa's very funny. She's got a great sense of humour, hasn't she?'  'Yes, she has.'

 

But if the voice goes up, it is a real question:

• 'You haven't seen Lisa today, have you?'  'No, I haven't.'
  (= Have you by chance seen Lisa today?)

 

You can use a negative sentence + positive tag to ask for things or information, or to ask somebody to do something. The voice goes up at the end of the tag in sentences like these:

• 'You haven't got a pen, have you?'  'Yes, here you are.'
• 'You couldn't do me a favour, could you?'  'It depends what it is.'
• 'You don't know where Karen is, do you?'  'Sorry, I have no idea.'

 

 

   D   

After Let's ... , the question tag is shall we:

• Let's go for a walk, shall we? (the voice goes up)

 

After Don't ... , the question tag is will you:

• Don't be late, will you? (the voice goes down)

 

After I'm ... , the negative question tag is aren't I (= am I not):

• I'm right, aren't I?'  'Yes, you are.'