English Grammar Secrets: question tags

question tags

To reply, use the same auxiliary. e.g. It's very beautiful, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. I think it's fabulous. It isn't very good, is it? ~ No, it isn't. In fact, it's terrible.

question tags

Making a tag is very mechanical. To make a tag, use the first auxiliary. If there is no auxiliary, use do, does or did. With a positive sentence, make a negative tag and with a negative sentence, make a positive tag. e.g. It's beautiful, isn't it? He has been here, hasn't he? You can, can't you? It must be, mustn't it? You know him, don't you? He finished it, didn't he? He will come, won't he? It isn't very good, is it? It hasn't rained, has it? It can't be, can it? Jenny doesn't know James, does she? He won't do it, will he?

question tags

Notice these: There isn't an ATM here, is there? Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?

question tags

They are not really questions but are a way of asking the other person to *make a comment* and so *keep the conversation open*.

question tags

We use tags in spoken English but not in formal written English.