LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

13 Questions, answers, negatives

13.3 Tag questions and echo tags

13.3A Tag questions 1 : 'It is ..., isn't it?'/'lt isn't..., is it?' [> LEG 13.17-19,13.22.1-2]

Study:^1 A tag question is a short question (e.g. have you?/haven't you?) that follows a statement.

We form tag questions with auxiliaries (be, have, can, may, etc.) and do, does, did.

2 They are affirmative - negative: John was annoyed, wasn't he? You like fish, don't you?

or negative - affirmative: John wasn't annoyed, was he? You don't like fish, do you?

3 Many languages have a phrase which means 'Isn't that so?' In English, we use tags to say this,

but we also use expressions like don't you think?, right? etc.

4 If our voice goes up on the tag, we are asking a real question which needs an answer:

You left the gas on, didn't/sou? - Yes, I did./No, I didn't.

You didn't leave the gas on,/did you? - Yes, I did./No, I didn't.

5 If our voice goes down on the tag, we want the listener to agree with us and we don't usually

expect an answer: You locked the door, didn't\you? (= I assume you did.)

You didn't lock the door, dïdtyou?(= I assume you didn't.)

Write: You want the listener to agree with you. Do the exercise orally, then in writing.

1 She's late? 10

2 They're on holiday,?

3 I'm early? [> 10.1B]

4 Carla was at home?

5 We were all ill?

6 You've finished,?

7 Marc has gone out,? 16

8 I always do the wrong thing,? 17

9 Tessa works hard?

She isn't late?

They aren't on holiday,?

I'm not early?

Carla wasn't at home?

We weren't all ill?

You haven't finished?

Marc hasn't gone out?

I don't often do the right thing?

18 Tessa doesn't work hard,?

11

12

13

14

15

13.3B

Study:

Eg

Write:

Tag questions 2: 'You painted it yourself, did you?' [> LEG 13.20-21,13.22.3]

Tag questions can also be affirmative - affirmative.

If our voice goes up on the tag, we mean 'Tell me more', etc.:

She's getting married, is/she? (= I'd like to know more about it.)

If our voice goes down on the tag, we express negative feelings like disappointment,

disapproval or suspicion. We don't usually expect an answer:

I'll get my money back, ШЩ? (= I don't believe it.)

Say the sentences under A aloud and match them with a statement under B.

А В

1 You painted it yourself, did you? e a) I don't believe it.

2 You couldn't give me a hand, could you? b) Tell me more.

3 Someone broke that vase, did they? c) I hope you can.

4 You'll give me a call, will you? d) I hope you didn't.

5 So they're selling their house, are they? e) I'm impressed.

6 You didn't leave the garage open, did you? f) I hope you will.

7 He says he's innocent, does he? g) I'm sorry to hear that.