Tag Questions
A tag question is a question added
at the end of a sentence.
Maria is here, isn’t she?
Maria isn’t here, is she?
We use tag questions for two
reasons:
1. To make sure our information
is correct or
2. To seek agreement.
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Tag Questions, Study notes of Grammar and Composition
Negative sentences—Mary isn't here—take a positive tag question—is she? + sentence. - tag. + answer. Mary is here, isn't she? Yes, she is. You like tea,.
Typology: Study notes
2021/2022
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Tag Questions
A tag question is a question added at the end of a sentence.
Maria is here, isn’t she? Maria isn’t here, is she?
We use tag questions for two reasons:
- To make sure our information is correct or
- To seek agreement.
Forming tag questions
Positive sentences— Mary is here —take a negative tag question— isn’t she? Negative sentences— Mary isn’t here —take a positive tag question— is she? + sentence - tag + answer
Mary is here, isn’t she? Yes, she is.
You like tea, don’t you? Yes, I do. They have left, haven’t they? Yes, they have.
- sentence + tag - answer
Mary isn’t here, is she? No, she isn’t. You don’t like tea, do you? No, I don’t.
They haven’t left, have they? No, they haven’t.
The problem with I
- I am supposed to be here, am I not? (formal English)
- I am supposed to be here, aren’t I? (spoken English)
Intonation
- Mary is here, isn’t she?
Rising intonation : you are asking if your information is correct.
- Mary isn’t here, is she? Falling intonation : you think your information is correct, and you are almost certain the listener will agree.