Tag Question
Questions can be divided as yes/no questions, tag question, wh-questions and other questions. Here we are discussing about tag questions.
Tag questions are shot questions that are added after statement (stem). Basically, there are two main types of it; positive tag and negative tag.
Negative stem = Positive tag (He is not a teacher, is he?)
If the stem is negative, the tag is positive. Hardly, none, never, not, no, barely, scarcely, seldom, neither etc. are negative words. They take positive tags.
He never smoked, did he?
They hardly know each other, do they?
Positive stem = Negative tag (He is a teacher, isn’t he?)
If the stem is positive, the tag is negative.
If the stem does not contain an auxiliary verb (is, am, are, was, were, ,…) modal verb (can, will, shall, may, could, should…) then use do verb in the tag.
He likes cats, doesn’t he?
They play volleyball, don’t they?
More examples;
He and I do it, don’t we?
I am a student, aren’t I?
That book belongs to you, doesn’t it?
Jugging is good for health, isn’t it?
Everything is alright, isn’t it?
Everybody is singing, aren’t they?
Somebody is there, aren’t they?
Nobody has computer, have they?
There is a boy, isn’t there?
One can do it can’t one?
Tags for Imperatives
Hurry up, will you? (urgency)
Close the door, would you? (Requesting politely)
Turn on the fan, will you? (Request)
Let’s go for movie, shall we? (Suggestion)
Let us help him, will you?
More on Tags
A single word verb (that is different to the verb in the stem) is sometimes used as a tag. (know, remember, see, understand)
You were asked to bring a letter, remember?
He used to come earlier and finish his duty in time, you know?
I have a piece of paper in my hand, see?
I won’t go, right?
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