Tag Questions

1
Tag Questions
Its a tag question, isnt it ?
Yes, it is.
????????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????????
????? ???? ? 1455 ?.??????
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Tag Questions
A tag question is a special construction in
English. It is a statement followed by a
mini-question. You speak
English, dont you? This is a
lovely town, isn't it? The whole sentence is a
"tag question", and the mini-question at the end
is called a "question tag". A "tag" is
something small that we add to something larger.
For example, the little piece of cloth
added to a shirt showing size or washing
instructions is a tag.
Elena Marvanova
3
Tag Questions
Question tag uses

• Main points
• You use statements with tags to show reactions,
  to ask for information.
• Sasha has been to Great Britain
  before, hasnt he?
• You can use negative statement with positive
  question tag to make requests.
• You cant help me, can
  you?
• You use some questions tags to make imperative
  more polite.
• You wont be late, will
  you?

Elena Marvanova
4
Tag Questions
Question tag forms

• 
  
• Main points
• You add a question tag to a statement to turn it
  into question.
• A question tag consists of a verb a pronoun.
  The verb in question tag is always an auxiliary,
  a modal or a form of the main verb to be
• do / dont , did / didnt , will / wont
  , have/ havent ,
• can / cant, is / isnt, are /
  arent, ect
• With a positive statement, you usually use a
  negative question
• tag containing a short form ending in
  nt
• With a negative statement, you always use a
  positive question tag.

Elena Marvanova
5
Tag Questions
Question tag forms


Elena Marvanova
6
Statements with negative adverbsThe adverbs
never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely and
scarcely have a negative sense. Even though they
are in a positive statement, the feeling of the
statement is negative. We treat statements with
these words like negative statements, so the
question tag is normally positive.
He never came again, did he? She
rarely comes, does she? You hardly
ever come late, do you? I barely
know you, do I? You can scarcely expect
her to know that, can you?
Tag Questions
Elena Marvanova
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Tag Questions
Be polite
Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for
information or help, starting with a negative
statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of
making a request. For example, instead of saying
"Where is the police station?" (not very
polite), or "Do you know where the police
station is?" (slightly more polite), we could
say "You wouldn't know where the police
station is, would you?" Here are some more
examples You don't know of any good jobs, do
you? You couldn't help me with my homework,
could you? You haven't got 10 to lend
me, have you?
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Tag Questions
Responses to tag questions Responses to tag
questions may be given in the form of short "yes"
or "no" answers or in the form of full
statements. Despite the fact that tag questions
are asked to get confirmation, the answer may be
negative. - Ann was in England a year
ago, wasn't you? - Yes, she was. / No,
she wasnt. - Nick doesnt go to
school on Saturdays, does he? - No, he
doesnt. / Yes, he does.
Elena Marvanova
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Tag Questions
Some more special cases
Elena Marvanova
10
Tag Questions
Here are some mixed examples But you don't
really love her, do you? This will work, won't
it? Well, I couldn't help it, could I?
But you'll tell me if she calls, won't you?
We'd never have known, would we? The
weather's bad, isn't it? Tom won't be late,
will he? Nobody knows, do they?
Elena Marvanova
11
Tag Questions
Intonation, pronunciation
We can change the meaning of a tag question with
the musical pitch of our voice. With rising
intonation, it sounds like a real question. But
if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a
statement that doesn't require a real answer
Use falling intonation in the first part and
rising or falling intonation in the second part
of the tag question.
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Tag Questions
Intonation, pronunciation Ex.1 Real question.
Practise saying these sentences and question tags
with rising intonation on the question tag. You
can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or
to check your intonation. You couldn't lend me
twenty pounds, could you? You don't know if
Peter is here, do you? They are going to get
married, aren't they? You aren't going out in
this terrible weather, are you? We don't have
to go now, do we? She's from Canada, isn't she?
You haven't seen Peter today, have you? I
could finish this later, couldn't I?
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Tag Questions
Intonation, pronunciation Ex.2 Checking
information or making
conversation
Practise saying these sentences and tag questions
with falling intonation on the question tag. You
can use the examples in the mp3 to guide you, or
to check your intonation. . This is a lovely
town, isn't it? The weather last night was
terrible, wasn't it? They can't sing at all,
can they? We'll never be able to eat all that
pizza, will we? She hates him, doesn't she?
She's a wonderful woman, isn't she? The shops
are open late tonight, aren't they? We
shouldn't leave the party too early, should we?
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Tag Questions
Lets do next exercise
isnt she?

• It is an interesting programme, ?
• He will stay with his family, ?
• There is not a local school in this street, ?
• She is responsible for the tickets, ?
• They always arrange a school party, ?
• He cant bring an invitation letter, ?

wont he?
dont they?
can he?
isnt it?
is there?
Elena Marvanova
15
Tag Questions

• Match next question tags

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Tag Questions

• Mix Match, please

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Tag Questions
Match up the answers.
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Tag Questions

• You wanted that, .......... ?
• a) would you b) didnt you c) arent you
  d) do you
• You know that's right .......... ?
• a) arent you b) didnt you c) wont you
  d) do you
• He wil be coming .......... ?
• a) will you b) didnt you c) wont you
  d) dont you
• You won't report me, .......... ?
• a) wont you b) did you c) will you d)
  do you
• Be quiet for a moment,
• a) will you b) dont you c) wont you
  d) do you
• Ann has never been in London, ..?
• a)isnt she b) was she c) has she
  d) hasnt she

Elena Marvanova
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Tag Questions
Add the tags, please
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Tag Questions
Complete the questions the answers.
didnt they
No, I shouldnt
does she?
No, he wont
cant she ?
No, I havent
should you ?
No, she doesnt
Yes, he has
hasnt he?
Yes, they did.
wouldnt you?
couldnt we ?
have you?
will the?
Yes, I would.
Yes, she can.
Yes, we could.
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Examples with positive statements
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Tag Questions
Examples with positive statements
Elena Marvanova
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Tag Questions
Links resources

• REASOURCES LINKS
• Enjoy English 5th by M. Biboletova Titul,
  Moscow.
• Collins Cobuild Students Grammar. Practice
  materials by Dave Willis. Harper Collins
  Publishers.
• www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish ( intonation,
  pronunciation)
• www.englishclub.com ( explanation)
• www.esl-galaxy.com (board game)
• www.headsupenglish.com ( explanation)
• www.shutterstock.com ( images)
• www.englishgramarsecrets.com ( exercises)
• PowerPoint presentation (of my own )