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.