Tag Questions

• They are important, aren’t they?

What is a tag question?

• It is when a small question is added to a statement, – “Life is good, isn’t it?”

When do we use tag question?

• Tag questions are used in “informal” situations, like talking with your friends.

• You do not use tag questions when you are doing formal writing.

Why are tag questions used?

• Tag questions are used to keep the conversation going.

• A tag question gives the person you are talking to a chance to respond.

Example

• “It is sunny.”

• (thinking: should I say something?)

• “It is sunny, isn’t it?”

• “Yes, it is. I love the sun, don’t you?”

• The conversation can continue.

How do you make a tag question?

• To make a tag question you look at the auxiliary (be-verb, helping or linking verb)

• If the sentence is positive, change the auxiliary to a negative verb.

If the sentence is negative change the auxiliary to a positive verb.

Example

• “The pizza is great.”– “is” is your auxiliary

– Change it from a positive to a negative • Isn’t • Use to make a short question

“The pizza is great, isn’t it?”

No auxiliary?

• If there is no auxiliary you use do or does

• “ I like ice cream, don’t you?

• “Sue likes ice cream, doesn’t she?”

It’s a tag question, isn’t it?

• Look carefully to see if a question is a tag question. It must have a statement then a short question.

– You can see the board, can’t you?

– Can you see the board?• Note in the second example there is no

statement, the entire sentence is a question.

More examples

• Pigs can’t fly.

• Ask yourself, “What is the auxiliary?”

• Is it positive or negative?

• How can we change it?

• Pigs can’t fly, can they?

Matching

It is hot

I can’t juggle

I like popcorn

Dogs are fun

aren’t they?

isn’t it?

can I?

don’t I?