TAG QUESTIONS

SUBJECT+ VERB (POSITIVE) .... .., (NEGATIVE) VERB+SUBJECT ? eg: She came, didn't she? OR She did come, didn't she? They are happy to be here, aren't they? SUBJECT+ VERB (NEGATIVE) .... , (POSITIVE) VERB+SUBJECT ? eg: She doesn't like chores, does she? They haven't been informed, have they? 1) negative adverbs Sentences with negative adverbs such as hardly,never,barely, rarely,scarcely,seldom do not have a negative question tag at the end. They seldom come, don't they? [X] They seldom come, do they? [] He is never available, isn't he?[X] He is never available, is he? [] 2) quantifiers with negative meaning Sentences with quantifiers denoting negative meaning such as no,none of, not one,neither of, not any, few, little, hardly any, scarcely any, not many do not require a negative question tag at the end. Note: The question tag for "few/not many/not one+NOUN" is .....they? The question tag for "little+NOUN" is .....it? The question tag for "no/scarcely any/hardly any/barely any/none of+ Countable NOUN" is .....they? The question tag for "no/scarcely any/hardly any/barely any/none of+ Uncountable NOUN" is .....it? The question tag for "few/not many/not one/none/scarcely any/hardly any/barely any+of+us" is .....we?
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The question tag for "few/not many/not one/none/scarcely any/hardly any/barely any+of+you" is .....you? Few men have the proper values to live through this age, don't they? [X] Few men have the proper values to live through this age, do they? [] Little money was invested in this scheme, wasn't it? [X] Little money was invested in this scheme, was it? []

3) Pronouns with negative meanings The subject of the sentence with negative meaning (none, nothing,neither, nobody,not many, few, little, hardly any, scarcely any) does not require a negative question tag at the end. Note: The question tag for "none/nothing/not many/few/nobody/neither" is .....they? The question tag for "nothing" is .....it? The question tag for "little+NOUN" is .....it?
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None would survive the next world war, wouldn't they? None would survive the next world war, would they?[] Nothing is free these days, isn't it? [X] Nothing is free these days, is it? []

4) Let's and Let When you use the word "let's", the question tag at the end must be "shall+we?" - Let's visit the Archeological Museum, don't we? [X] - Let's visit the Archeological Museum, shall we? [] - Lets go out for a drink, shall we? [] When you use the word "let", the question tag at the end must be "will/won't+you?"
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Let the prisoners go, could you? Let the prisoners go, will you?[] Let the prisoners go, won't you?

[X] []

5) Imperative sentences When the sentence is imperative, the question tag at the end must be "will/won't+you?" - Come over for tea today, can you? [X] - Come over for tea today, will you? [] - Come over for tea today, won't you? [] - Do try these lovely scones, wouldn't you? [X] - Do try these lovely scones, will you? [] - Do try these lovely scones, won't you? [] - Leave me alone, will you? [] - Close the door, will you? [] 6) Short observations When you are making short observations about something nonliving, the question tag at the end must be "isn't/aren't+it?" - Nice day, ain't it? [X] - Nice day, isn't it? (It is a nice day,isn't it?) [] When you are making short observations about the something living, the question tag at the end must be "isn't/aren't+she/he/they?" - Lovely girl, doesnt she? - Lovely girl, isnt she? (She is a lovely girl, isnt she?) - Beautiful creatures, isnt it? - Beautiful creatures, arent they? (Beautiful creatures, arent they?)
7) Stating Intentions

[X] [] [X] []

d I am not an amateur. __________________? e They havent got the keys. __________________? f He always rings the bell. __________________? g They dont go out very often. __________________? h He doesnt sell vegetables. __________________? i There arent great expectations. __________________? j We are quits now. __________________? k He is going to phone Ann first thing in the morning. ___________? l You hate hunting. __________________? m You cant land a plane. __________________? n He is going to wind the clock. __________________? o Life is hard. __________________? p Charles and William arent taking driving lessons. _____________? q Natasha does not know what to do. __________________? r My dogs dont bark at night. __________________? s They cant leave this door open. __________________? t Ingrid takes things easy. __________________? u Maggie is easygoing. __________________? v You remember the first time we met. __________________? w It doesnt work properly. __________________? x Oliver and Jeremy think this crossword is as easy as falling of a log. __________________? y You dont agree with them. __________________? z A lady doesnt smoke cigars. __________________?

Tag question in past tense

a Kevin dropped the soup. __________________? b Your grandfather always carried a stick. __________________? c Barry robbed them last month. __________________? d Christopher joined the army last year. __________________? e His wound didnt heal. __________________? f There wasnt anything to eat or drink. __________________? g We were in danger. __________________? h He wasnt inside the caf. __________________? i She was outside the bookshop. __________________? j They were very sensitive. __________________?

When to do something, the question tag at the end must be may+I? - I wish to leave now, dont I? [X] - I wish to leave now, may I? []

Revision exercise
Tag question in present tense
a She revises your work. __________________? b She doesnt like this corridor. __________________? c Im the best singer in the world. __________________?

Tag question with negative adverbs

Examples: He never goes to church, does he? They hardly ever go to Lauras surgery, do they? a. There is no butter left. __________________? b. Nothing matters now. __________________? c. I never drink beer. __________________? d. He seldom stays at home. __________________? e. He can barely read. __________________? f. You barely knew the accident. __________________? g. We rarely have a date. __________________? h. Our children scarcely pray. __________________? i. Parents could hardly speak when seeing their childrens bodies. _? j. Nothing compares to him. __________________? k. No salt is allowed. __________________? l. Nothing was lost. __________________? m. Lee hardly worked. __________________? n. Sarah seldom visits us. __________________?

Everything is very expensive nowadays. __________________? d. Everybody gave him a warm reception. __________________? e. Every child has to help to lay the table. __________________? f. Neither of them explained. __________________? g. I dont suppose anyone will help us. __________________? h. Everybody has left. __________________?
c.

Mixed exercise
a Edgars talk was a failure. __________________? b The van crashed into a wall. __________________? c We didnt buy any pears. __________________? d My dog buried the bone. __________________? e I cant look her up when I go to Glasgow. __________________? f Your boss had to do without his secretary yesterday morning. ____? g She wants to open a stationers shop. __________________? h No-one betrayed you. __________________? i She yelled at you about your getting there late. ________________? j She hugged him. __________________? k I cant catch up with you. __________________? l Mildred never shows off. __________________? m They were always boasting. __________________? n Nothing grows up there. __________________? o He wasnt up when you looked in on him at eight oclock in the morning. __________________? p I told you not to hit your sister. __________________? q He doesnt cook very well. __________________? r Philip didnt climb that oak-tree. __________________? s Monica and you dont often make your beds. ________________? t None of them entered the hut. __________________? u Her new boss was impressed by her good manners. ____________? v I am a good politician. __________________? w Im not in the mood for going out tonight. __________________? x They havent got your purse. __________________? y He is in a good temper today. __________________?

Tag question of pronouns

Examples: Nobody puts up with her behaviour, do they? Everything was said, wasnt it? We normally use they in the tag after anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, nobody, no-one, somebody, someone, and any other singular words referring to people. However, he can be employed in more formal speech or writing. The change of he to they is due to the fact that many people consider he sexually bias. If we refer to things (anything, everything, nothing, something), we use it. Nobody knows where the treasure is hidden. _________________? b. Nothing was done about it. __________________?
a.

z She concluded by saying that ones family always comes last. ____?

3. The negative verb form in the tag is, in almost all the cases, used in its contracted form: is = is not = isnt; do = do not = dont; has = has not = hasnt; may = may not = maynt is not = isnt *am not = arent are not = arent will not = wont was not = wasnt shall not = shant were not = werent do not = dont cannot = cant did not = didnt must not = mustnt has not = hasnt could not = couldnt have not = havent would not = wouldnt Remember that though ANOMALOUS take the negative directly, Nonanomalous Verbs do not take the negative directly but take the help of do/does in Simple Present Tense and did in Simple Past Tense to form negative. *11. Will you, wont you, would you, can you, cant you and could you are used in tag-questions after imperative mood sentences [refer to item 5]. They are actually not questions: they mean something like please!

[Wont is used to invite somebody; will, would, can and cant are used to tell people to do things.] e.g. Do sit down, wont you? [inviting somebody politely] Give me a hand, will you? [asking somebody to help] Open the door, would you? [asking somebody to open the door politely] Shut up, cant you? [ordering somebody to keep quiet] **12. After a negative imperative verb word in the main part of the sentence, only will you is used in the tag. e.g. Dont wake me up early in the morning, will you? ***13. In this type of construction, we use positive verb in the tag even if the verb in the main part of the sentence is positive. When use this positive verb in the tag, we almost mean really or indeed!. e.g. You saw him going, did you? [= Oh, so you saw him going] Youve found a job, have you? [= Ah, finally you got a job!]