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Tag Questions (3 Files Merged)

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6 views6 pages

Tag Questions (3 Files Merged)

Uploaded by

tapelkjm
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Tag Questions Part 1 – Basic Rule

1. What is a tag question?


a. Asks for confirmation.
b. Sentence, + short question
i. Example:
1. Her dog is cute, isn’t it?
a. Sentence = “Her dog is cute,”
b. Short question = “isn’t it?”
2. Basic rule: If the sentence is negative, then use positive short question and vice versa.
a. Example:
i. Her dog is cute, isn’t it?
1. “Her dog is cute,” is a positive statement. So, use a negative question
(isn’t it?).
ii. Her dog is not cute, is it?
1. “Her dog is not cute,” is a negative statement. So, use a positive
question (is it?).
Quick Quiz

1. Lucy will get one of these puppies, ____?


a. The answer is “won’t she” because the statement is positive (will).
2. Cookies have eggs and flour so Haley can’t have cookies, ____?
a. The answer is “can she” because the statement is negative (can’t).
3. Issa isn’t as sad, ____?
a. The answer is “is she” because the statement is negative (isn’t).
Tag Questions Part 2 – Special Cases

Statement Tag Question


I am ____ Aren’t
I have to ____ Don’t
____ have/has/had been ____ Have/Has/Hadn’t
Nothing/Nobody Did/Do
Let’s Shall
[do] (can be omitted) Don’t

Note: there are sentences that are unclear whether it is positive or negative. If you can insert a “do” to
that statement, then use “don’t.”

1. I am – Aren’t I
a. Example:
i. I am right, aren’t I?
2. I have to – Don’t I
a. Example:
i. I have to start studying, don’t I? (Not “have not”)
1. If there’s a “to” then use “don’t I.”
3. Have been – Haven’t
a. Example:
i. I have been trying, haven’t I?
4. Nothing/Nobody – Did/Do
a. Example:
i. Nobody knows for sure, do they?
1. Negative word “nobody” refers to people.
2. Negative word “nothing” refers to things.
3. If you can substitute the tag question to the negative statement then
use it.
a. Example:
i. Do they know for sure?
5. Let’s – Shall
a. Example:
i. Let’s go outside, shall we?
1. Used “we” because of “us” in “let’s = let us.”
6. [do] – Don’t
a. Example:
i. You like chips, don’t you?
1. There is no indicator whether the statement is positive or negative but
you can insert a “do.”
2. So, the statement would be “You do like chips,”.
Quick Quiz

1. Nothing really happened, ____?


a. The answer is “did it” because “nothing” refers to a thing.
2. You believe in miracles, ____?
a. The answer is “don’t you” because the statement is unclear (positive or negative) and
you can insert a “do” in the statement.
3. She has been in this same situation before, ____?
a. The answer is “hasn’t she” because it is the negative counterpart of “has been.”
Tag Questions Part 3 – Negative Adverbs

1. Negative Adverbs examples


a. Never
b. Rarely
c. Seldom
d. Hardly
e. Barely
f. Scarcely
2. Note: negative adverbs will automatically make the statement negative. So, use a positive
question.
Quick Quiz

1. I think Maria deserved to be fired. She hardly ever worked, ____?


a. Does she
b. Doesn’t she
c. Didn’t she
d. Did she
i. The answer is letter d, “did she.”
1. Because there is a negative adverb (hardly) in the sentence that makes
it a negative statement.
2. And since we are talking about an event that happened in the past, the
question should also be in the past. (Fired and worked)
3. But if the sentence is like this: “She hardly ever works,” then use “does.”
2. Mimi is so sleepy. She can barely walk, ____?
a. The answer is “can she” and the clue word (can).
b. Normally, the answer would be “can’t” because it is the negative counterpart of “can.”
But since there is a negative adverb (barely), it will automatically become a negative
statement.
3. Don’t feel too sad. He never loved you, ____?
a. The answer is “did he” because the verb (loved) is in past tense. So, the question should
also be in the past.
b. Also, since there is no indicator in the sentence whether it is a negative or a positive
statement, you can insert a “do.” Then use the counterpart of it (do – don’t).
4. Kevin rarely gets to work on time, ____?
a. The answer is “does he” because the verb (gets) is in present tense so the question
should also be in present tense.

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