question tags presentation

• B1-B2 grammar

Question tags

Do you know how to use question tags like is he and didn't you ? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how question tags are used.

You haven't seen this film, have you? Your sister lives in Spain, doesn't she? He can't drive, can he?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Question tags: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

We can add question tags like isn't it? , can you? or didn't they? to a statement to make it into a question. Question tags are more common in speaking than writing.

We often use question tags when we expect the listener to agree with our statement. In this case, when the statement is positive, we use a negative question tag.

She 's a doctor, isn't she? Yesterday was so much fun, wasn't it?

If the statement is negative, we use a positive question tag. 

He isn't here, is he? The trains are never on time, are they? Nobody has called for me, have they?

If we are sure or almost sure that the listener will confirm that our statement is correct, we say the question tag with a falling intonation. If we are a bit less sure, we say the question tag with a rising intonation.

If there is an auxiliary verb in the statement, we use it to form the question tag.

I don't need to finish this today, do I? James is working on that, isn't he? Your parents have retired, haven't they? The phone didn't ring, did it? It was raining that day, wasn't it? Your mum hadn't met him before, had she?

Sometimes there is no auxiliary verb already in the statement. For example, when:

... the verb in the statement is present simple or past simple and is positive. Here we use don't , doesn't or didn't :

Jenni eats cheese, doesn't she? I said that already, didn't I? 

... the verb in the statement is to be in the present simple or past simple. In this case we use to be to make the question tag:

The bus stop 's over there, isn't it? None of those customers were happy, were they?

... the verb in the statement is a modal verb. Here we use the modal verb to make the question tag:

They could hear me, couldn't they? You won't tell anyone, will you?

If the main verb or auxiliary verb in the statement is am , the positive question tag is am I? but the negative question tag is usually aren't I? :

I 'm never on time, am I ? I 'm going to get an email with the details, aren't I ?

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Question tags: Grammar test 2

Language level

Please, could you help me with these questions?

4- Little water was left for me, .........?

11- He must be ill; he didn't attend the lesson today, .........?

12- He must study hard otherwise, he will fail, .........?

13- He must have bought a new car, .........?

16- The baby is fast asleep, .........?

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Hello Iceed,

There are basically two steps to choosing the correct form: 1) identify the auxiliary verb that the question tag is related to, and 2) form the question tag.

In sentence 11, for example, the verb before the question tag is 'didn't attend'. To form the question tag, you use the same tense and person and use affirmative form (since 'didn't' is negative) of the auxiliary verb: 'did he?'. In 12 and 16, it's similar: 'won't he' and 'isn't it'. 13 looks a little trickier, but you do the same: take the auxiliary verb 'must' and then negate it: 'mustn't he'. 

I can't think of a way that 4 could sound natural to me, but assuming this is from some textbook, I suppose the answer it suggests is 'wasn't it'. But this is very awkward sounding. I wouldn't include this sentence in an exercise on question tags.

By the way, please let us know what you think the answers are. It will help us explain our answers better.

Hope this helps. 

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello, Sir! I wanted to know which tag is correct.

Not only Rima but also Rudra went there, .............?

(a) did he?

(b) didn't he?

(c) did they?

(d) didn't they?

I like you loved travelling, ................?

(a) didn't you?

(b) didn't I?

(c) don't we?

Thanking you again.

Hi SM JAKIRUL ISLAM,

In the first question, I would choose (b) or (d). If the speaker wants to focus on both Rima and Rudra together, "didn't they?" would be better. If the speaker wants to focus on Rudra only (for example, if it has already been established earlier in the conversation that Rima went there), then "didn't he?" would be better.

The second question ("I like you loved") is not grammatical. But you could say "You loved travelling, didn't you?".

I hope that helps.

LearnEnglish team

Help me sir please. Problem 1: What is the correct tag question of proverbs like (a) None is none under the sun,isn't it/ are they? (b) Time and tide wait for none, isn't it/ do they? (c) Waste not, want not, isn't it?

Problem 2: What is the correct tag question of interrogative sentences like: (a) Who cares, do they?

Problem 3:Can we add tag question to phrases like (a) Good morning, ......? (b) Happy birthday, ....?

I've given the answer with confusion. I think that as the proverbs are universal, the tag question should be always 'isn't it'. We should not use any tag question with interrogative sentences like 'who cares' because it itself a question. We might not add tag question with phrases like 'Good morning/ happy birth' because they are wishes and we cannot ask for confirmation from the hearer we are wishing. But some teachers of Bangladesh set question like these in exams.

Thanking again. I will be happy if you give solutions with reference.

Hello SM JAKIRUL ISLAM,

Your question has already been asked and answered on another site:

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/522069/tag-questions-of-proverbs-interrogative-sentences-and-phrases#522077

The discussion there is clear and very thorough. I don't think there is anything to add to it other than to highlight that proverbs are fixed expressions which we do not change, and so the idea of adding a tag question to them is a very odd one which no native speaker would consider appropriate.

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello, Sir! I wanted to know if negative prepositions, such as "without" affect the tag: e.g., You went to the party without her, did you? / didn't you? Thank you for your time.

Hello Sokhomkim,

Good question! No, in general they don't. In this sentence, the typical question tag is 'didn't you' whether you say 'with' or 'without'.

Hi About question tags in the imperative for example : open that door, will you? But how the question tag would be if the statement was negative. Example don't open that door,......

It is also "will you?" for negative imperatives. However, in real life usage, it is very rarely used. 

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• B1-B2 grammar

Question tags

Sophie is in the Australian outback and not everything goes to plan. 

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of question tags. They are in  red  in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, the question tags correctly.

Ollie:  What time is it? Oh, hi, Mum. It’s a bit early, isn’t it? Sophie:  Oh, yes, I suppose it is. Look, Ollie, I’ve got to ask you a really huge favour … Ollie:  Slow down, Mum. I’m not awake yet. Sophie:  Sorry, love. It’s just that I’ve got a bit of a problem. I’ve broken down … Ollie:  Hang on, you’re in a desert in the middle of Australia, aren’t you? Sophie:  It’s not exactly a desert, you know. It’s called the outback. Ollie:  Mum! It’s really dangerous to get stuck out there! Sophie:  It’s not so bad, but I need you to find someone in Alice Springs who will come and get me. Tell them that I’m about two hours away on the Stuart Highway, south of Alice. I can’t look for information because there’s no mobile coverage here and I can’t get the internet. Ollie:  So how are you phoning me? Sophie:  On my satellite phone, of course. Daisy:  What’s going on? Mum isn’t in trouble, is she? Ollie:  Yes … Sophie:  No, I’m fine. I’ve got plenty of food and water. Ollie:  But it must be really hot out there. Daisy:  Oh, we told you not to drive in the outback on your own, didn’t we? Sophie:  Listen, you two, I’m absolutely fine. I just need a bit of help with a phone call. These things happen when you travel independently. You can’t expect to see the world without a few little problems. Daisy:  Uh oh, I can feel the travel versus tourism lecture coming on. Sophie:  That’s enough from you two. Ollie, the satellite number is on the fridge. Give me a call when you’ve arranged something. Ollie:  OK, Mum, it’s your phone bill. Keep cool! Sophie:  I’ll try. Bye loves, and thanks! Ollie:  I think she might be getting a bit old for this sort of travelling, don’t you? Daisy:  Nah, she’ll be OK. She’s a lot tougher than you or me. I can’t imagine her doing anything else, can you?

We add question tags to the end of statements to turn them into questions. They are used in spoken language, especially when we want to check something is true, or invite people to agree with us.

So how do we form question tags?

We add a clause in the form of a question at the end of a sentence. If the main part of the sentence is positive we usually add a negative question tag.

It’s a bit early, isn’t it ?

If the main part is negative, we usually add a positive question tag.

Mum isn’t in trouble, is she ?

OK, that seems easy.

Yes, but you need to think about what verb to use in the tag. If there is an auxiliary, a modal verb or the verb to be in the main clause, we use that in the question tag.

You’re in a desert in the middle of Australia, aren’t you ?

If there is another main verb, we use do in the correct form (as we would with questions and negatives).

I think she might be getting a bit old for this sort of travelling, don’t you ? We told you not to drive in the outback on your own, didn’t we ?

OK, so the question tag refers to the subject of the main sentence.

Yes, very often, but sometimes it doesn’t.

I can’t imagine her doing anything else, can you ?

Are there any exceptions?

There are a few. We use 'aren’t I' instead of the more logical 'amn’t I'.

I’m next in the queue, aren’t I ?

Where is the stress in question tags?

It’s on the verb and the intonation is usually falling, unless the speaker isn’t sure about some kind of factual information, then it’s rising.

You’re from Beijing, aren’t you ? (falling intonation = you’re fairly sure) You’re from Beijing, aren’t you ? (rising intonation = you’re not very sure and want the other person to confirm the information)

You use them a lot in conversation, don’t you ?

Yes, we do. We use them a lot to try and involve other people in conversations.

So I’d better start using them more, hadn’t I ?

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QUESTION TAGS

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A subject pronoun comes after an auxiliary or a form of the verb TO BE

A subject pronoun is used to replace the noun or noun phrase

a positive question tag

a negative statement

a positive statement

a negative question tag

• When the statement is negative, we use a positive question tag.

A question tag is a short question at the end of a statement asking for agreement or confirmation.

• When the statement is positive, we use a negative question tag.

Question tags

• I am late, am not I?

• EXCEPTION• I am late, aren’t I?

Example: 1. The party is open to everyone, isn’t it? 2.Lewis, you are doing that, aren’t you? 3. I’m not responsible for that, am I?

When the verb To Be is used in the statement, repeat it in the question tag.

A question tag is composed of an auxiliary verb, a modal verb, or a form of the verb To Be + a subject pronoun.

Examples: • 1. That should be OK, shouldn’t it? • 2. You haven’t forgotten about that, have you?

With modal verbs (can, might, should have, etc.), repeat the modal or the auxiliary verb in the question tag.

Modal or auxiliary verbs

With present simple verbs use: Do, don’t, does or doesn’t.• Examples : • 1. The shop opens at 8 am, doesn’t it? • 2. You play tennis, don’t you? • 3. You don’t speak Italian, do you?

Do/don’t/does/doesn’t

With past simple verbs use did or didn’t. Examples: 1.He played very well football, didn’t he? 2.She didn’t study for the test, did she?

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QUESTION TAGS.

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Question tags

Question tags (made by carmen luisa) use form form form form form form question tags question tags (made by carmen luisa) use form form form form form form question ... – powerpoint ppt presentation.

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• 6. Intonation
• When we are sure of the answer, the voice goes down in the question tag
• John doesnt like gold, does he?
• The speaker knows John doesnt like gold.
• When we are not sure of the answer, the voice goes up
• They left for Milan, didnt they?
• ? The speaker doesnt know if they left for Milan or not.

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What is Eid al-Fitr? 6 questions about the holiday and how Muslims celebrate it, answered

By Ken Chitwood

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 8:03 AM EDT / The Conversation

Ken Chitwood  is a senior research fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and journalist-fellow at the Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the  University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences .

Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's principal festivals, will be celebrated April 9, 2024, according to the Fiqh Council of North America . At the middle of June, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, explains the two Islamic festivals.

1. What is Eid?

Eid literally means a "festival" or "feast" in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long festival and is known as the "Lesser" or "Smaller Eid" when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four days long and is known as the "Greater Eid."

2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a year?

The two Eids recognize, celebrate and recall two distinct events that are significant to the story of Islam.

Eid al-Fitr means "the feast of breaking the fast." The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan , which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month.

3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers. People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak," meaning "Blessed Eid" and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. Practices vary from country to country.

In many countries with large Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a national holiday. Schools, offices and businesses are closed so family, friends and neighbors can enjoy the celebrations together. In the U.S. and the U.K., Muslims may request to have the day off from school or work to travel or celebrate with family and friends.

In countries like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims decorate their homes with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Special food is prepared and friends and family are invited over to celebrate.

In places like Jordan, with its Muslim majority population, the days before Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at local malls and special "Ramadan markets" as people prepare to exchange gifts on Eid al-Fitr.

In Turkey and in places that were once part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, it is also known as the, "Lesser Bayram" or "festival" in Turkish.

4. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha?

The other festival, Eid al-Adha, is the "feast of the sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj , an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is obligatory once in a lifetime, but only for those with means.

Eid al-Adha recalls the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan's attempt to tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God's command. Ibrahim, however, remains unmoved and informs Ismail, who is willing to be sacrificed.

But, just as Ibrahim attempts to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed in place of Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to remember Ibrahim's sacrifice and remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God.

5. When are they celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the final month in the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated based on lunar phases. Since the Islamic calendar year is shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar year by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can vary year by year.

6. What is the spiritual meaning of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, as it follows the fasting of Ramadan, is also seen as a spiritual celebration of Allah's provision of strength and endurance.

Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is meant to be a time of joy and blessing for the entire Muslim community and a time for distributing one's wealth.

Charity to the poor is a highly emphasized value in Islam. The Quran says ,

"Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For those of you who believe and give charity – for them is a great reward."

This piece incorporates materials from an article first published on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been updated. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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