Transcript questiontags-110114082406-phpapp02

QUESTION TAGS
USE
• Use question tags in speech
and informal writing to check
information or ask for
agreement.
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
2
FORM
• We usually put negative question tags
after affirmative sentences and affirmative
tags after negative sentences.
e.g.
It’s warm today, isn’t it?
He doesn’t like me, does he?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
3
Auxiliary verbs
• If the main sentence has an auxiliary verb,
e.g. is, can, etc, this is repeated in the
question tag (opposite form).
e.g.
You can’t play tennis this evening, can
you?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
4
No auxiliary verb
• If the main sentence has no auxiliary, the
question tag is a form of the verb do.
e.g.
They went to Australia last Christmas,
didn’t they?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
5
Intonation
• In speech, use intonation to show the
meaning of the question tag.
• If the tag is a real question (we want to
know something and are not sure about
the answer), use a rising intonation .
• If the tag is not a real question (we already
think we know the answer), use a falling
intonation.
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
6
“I am …”
• The question tag for I am is aren’t I.
e.g.
I’m wrong, aren’t I?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
7
Imperatives
• After imperatives we often use won’t you?
to invite people to do things.
e.g.
Have a seat, won’t you?
• After let’s use shall we?
e.g.
Let’s walk along the beach, shall we?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
8
Negatives
• After negative words like never, no, hardly,
etc. we use an affirmative question tag.
e.g.
You never want to go out to clubs, do
you?
• After nothing we use it in the question tag.
e.g.
Nothing happened, did it?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
9
Nobody, somebody, everybody
• After nobody, somebody, everybody we
use they in question tags.
e.g.
Nobody wants to go out tonight, do they?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
10
Exercise 1: complete the
sentences.
•
•
•
•
•
•
I’m too late,
I?
Help yourself to a coffee,
Let’s get a sandwich,
You never go to the theatre,
Nothing went wrong today,
Nobody has complained,
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
you?
we?
you?
it?
they?
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Exercise 2
Complete the sentences.
1. She’s getting very
tall,…?
2. They don’t seem to like
their present, …?
3. You haven’t been
waiting long, …?
4. We can’t leave the party
early, …?
5. Let’s go and see a film,
…?
Listen and check your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
12
Exercise 3
1. She’s getting very tall,
isn’t she?
2. They don’t seem to like
their present, do they?
3. You haven’t been
waiting long, have you?
4. We can’t leave the party
early, can we?
5. Let’s go and see a film,
shall we?
6. Do sit down, won’t you?
Decide whether each
sentence is a, b, c or d.
Use the arrows.
a) checking information
b) asking for agreement
c) asking someone to do
something
d) making an offer or a
suggestion
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
13
Exercise 4
Match the question tags with the
sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Everything will be OK,
Have some more dessert,
I’m talking too much,
We don’t have much time,
Somebody’s moved the
desk,
That’s the law,
There’s hardly any bread left,
Let’s make a fire,
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
do we?
is there?
shall we?
haven’t they?
isn’t it?
F.
G.
H.
won’t it?
aren’t I?
won’t you?
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
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Person to person
•
•
Write one or two
facts you think you
know about three
other students in
class.
Check your facts by
asking the person,
using an appropriate
question tag.
Adapted by Elena Diaconescu
Total English, Upper-Int.
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