Question Tag, the complete guide, explanation, examples and practice questions

QUESTION TAG OR TAG QUESTION

    Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement, primarily used to confirm information, seek agreement, or clarify a point. Understanding how to form and use question tags is essential for effective communication in English. This guide will cover the structure, examples, practice exercises, and common pitfalls associated with question tags.

What is a Question Tag?

A question tag is a brief interrogative phrase that follows a statement. It typically consists of an auxiliary verb and a pronoun, and it reflects the opposite polarity of the statement. For example:

• Statement: It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
• Statement: You don’t like coffee, do you?

Structure of Question Tags

The basic structure of a question tag is:

• Positive statement + Negative tag
• Negative statement + Positive tag

Examples

1. Positive Statement with Negative Tag:
   • She is coming to the party, isn’t she?
   • They have finished their homework, haven’t they?
2. Negative Statement with Positive Tag:
   • He is not attending the meeting, is he?
   • You haven’t seen that movie, have you?

Special Cases

• Imperatives: Use "will you?" or "won't you?" for requests.
  • Close the door, will you?
• Using 'I am': The tag for "I am" is "aren't I?"
  • I am the best player, aren't I?
• Statements with 'nobody' or 'nothing': These are considered negative, so use a positive tag.
  • Nobody knows the answer, do they?

How to Form a Question Tag

1. Identify the Auxiliary Verb: Look for forms of "be," "do," or "have."
2. Determine the Statement's Polarity:
   • If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
   • If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.
3. Construct the Tag: Use the auxiliary verb from the statement and add the appropriate pronoun.

Example Breakdown

• Statement: You are coming to the party.
  • Auxiliary Verb: are
  • Tag: aren’t you?
  • Complete: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct question tag:
   • She can swim, ______?
   • They aren’t playing today, ______?
   • You’ve finished your work, ______?
2. Transform the following statements into questions with tags:
   • It’s raining, ______?
   • You don’t like chocolate, ______?
   • We should leave now, ______?

Answers

1. can't she?
   are they?
   haven’t you?
2. It’s raining, isn’t it?
   You don’t like chocolate, do you?
   We should leave now, shouldn’t we?

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong auxiliary verb: Ensure that the auxiliary verb in the tag matches the one in the main statement.
• Neglecting the pronoun: Always include the correct pronoun in the tag.
• Overusing same-way tags: While sometimes acceptable, they can sound informal or sarcastic.
• Example: So you think that’s funny, do you?

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Question Tag

1. She loves to read, ______?
2. They aren’t coming to the picnic, ______?
3. You can play the guitar, ______?
4. He didn’t finish his homework, ______?
5. It’s a beautiful day, ______?
6. You’ve been to Paris, ______?
7. They will join us later, ______?
8. She isn’t feeling well, ______?
9. We should start the meeting, ______?
10. You don’t mind if I sit here, ______?

Transform the Following Statements into Questions with Tags

11. The movie was great, ______?
12. You haven’t seen my keys, ______?
13. He is working late tonight, ______?
14. They could help us, ______?
15. I am right, ______?
16. This is your favorite song, ______?
17. She doesn’t like spicy food, ______?
18. We are meeting at 6 PM, ______?
19. You will help me with this project, ______?
20. The kids are playing outside, ______?

Identify and Correct the Mistakes in the Following Sentences

21. You are coming to the party, aren’t you?
22. She can’t swim, can she?
23. They will be here soon, won’t they?
24. He is a great singer, is he?
25. It’s not too late, is it?
26. You don’t have any pets, do you?
27. She has finished her work, hasn’t she?
28. We are going to the concert, aren’t we?
29. You like ice cream, do you?
30. They are not tired, are they?

Create Your Own Question Tags

31. I am going to the gym, ______?
32. You read that book, ______?
33. They have arrived, ______?
34. She isn’t coming with us, ______?
35. He plays football every weekend, ______?
36. We can leave early, ______?
37. You will call me later, ______?
38. It was a long day, ______?
39. They don’t understand the instructions, ______?
40. I should study more, ______?

Mixed Practice

41. You’re coming to the wedding, ______?
42. This isn’t your first time here, ______?
43. She likes to travel, ______?
44. They haven’t finished yet, ______?
45. He is a doctor, ______?
46. You can help me, ______?
47. The weather is nice today, ______?
48. We shouldn’t be late, ______?
49. You’ve met my sister, ______?
50. Nobody knows the answer, ______?

Answers

1. does she?
2. are they?
3. can you?
4. did he?
5. isn’t it?
6. haven’t you?
7. won’t they?
8. is she?
9. shouldn’t we?
10. do you?
11. wasn’t it?
12. have you?
13. isn’t he?
14. can’t they?
15. am I?
16. isn’t it?
17. does she?
18. aren’t we?
19. won’t you?
20. aren’t they?
21. (Correct as is)
22. (Correct as is)
23. (Correct as is)
24. isn’t he?
25. (Correct as is)
26. (Correct as is)
27. (Correct as is)
28. (Correct as is)
29. (Correct as is)
30. (Correct as is)
31. aren’t I?
32. didn’t you?
33. haven’t they?
34. is she?
35. doesn’t he?
36. can’t we?
37. won’t you?
38. wasn’t it?
39. do they?
40. shouldn’t I?
41. aren’t you?
42. is it?
43. doesn’t she?
44. have they?
45. isn’t he?
46. can’t you?
47. is it?
48. should we?
49. haven’t you?
50. do they?

Note: There may be some errors crept in the key. Please check once and intimate me if any error found. Thank you.

Conclusion

Mastering question tags enhances conversational skills and allows for more nuanced communication. By practicing the structure and understanding the exceptions, you can effectively use question tags to confirm information and engage in discussions.

QUESTION TAG OR TAG QUESTION

    Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement, primarily used to confirm information, seek agreement, or clarify a point. Understanding how to form and use question tags is essential for effective communication in English. This guide will cover the structure, examples, practice exercises, and common pitfalls associated with question tags.

What is a Question Tag?

A question tag is a brief interrogative phrase that follows a statement. It typically consists of an auxiliary verb and a pronoun, and it reflects the opposite polarity of the statement. For example:

• Statement: It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
• Statement: You don’t like coffee, do you?

Structure of Question Tags

The basic structure of a question tag is:

• Positive statement + Negative tag
• Negative statement + Positive tag

Examples

1. Positive Statement with Negative Tag:
   • She is coming to the party, isn’t she?
   • They have finished their homework, haven’t they?
2. Negative Statement with Positive Tag:
   • He is not attending the meeting, is he?
   • You haven’t seen that movie, have you?

Special Cases

• Imperatives: Use "will you?" or "won't you?" for requests.
  • Close the door, will you?
• Using 'I am': The tag for "I am" is "aren't I?"
  • I am the best player, aren't I?
• Statements with 'nobody' or 'nothing': These are considered negative, so use a positive tag.
  • Nobody knows the answer, do they?

How to Form a Question Tag

1. Identify the Auxiliary Verb: Look for forms of "be," "do," or "have."
2. Determine the Statement's Polarity:
   • If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
   • If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.
3. Construct the Tag: Use the auxiliary verb from the statement and add the appropriate pronoun.

Example Breakdown

• Statement: You are coming to the party.
  • Auxiliary Verb: are
  • Tag: aren’t you?
  • Complete: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct question tag:
   • She can swim, ______?
   • They aren’t playing today, ______?
   • You’ve finished your work, ______?
2. Transform the following statements into questions with tags:
   • It’s raining, ______?
   • You don’t like chocolate, ______?
   • We should leave now, ______?

Answers

1. can't she?
   are they?
   haven’t you?
2. It’s raining, isn’t it?
   You don’t like chocolate, do you?
   We should leave now, shouldn’t we?

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong auxiliary verb: Ensure that the auxiliary verb in the tag matches the one in the main statement.
• Neglecting the pronoun: Always include the correct pronoun in the tag.
• Overusing same-way tags: While sometimes acceptable, they can sound informal or sarcastic.
• Example: So you think that’s funny, do you?

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Question Tag

1. She loves to read, ______?
2. They aren’t coming to the picnic, ______?
3. You can play the guitar, ______?
4. He didn’t finish his homework, ______?
5. It’s a beautiful day, ______?
6. You’ve been to Paris, ______?
7. They will join us later, ______?
8. She isn’t feeling well, ______?
9. We should start the meeting, ______?
10. You don’t mind if I sit here, ______?

Transform the Following Statements into Questions with Tags

11. The movie was great, ______?
12. You haven’t seen my keys, ______?
13. He is working late tonight, ______?
14. They could help us, ______?
15. I am right, ______?
16. This is your favorite song, ______?
17. She doesn’t like spicy food, ______?
18. We are meeting at 6 PM, ______?
19. You will help me with this project, ______?
20. The kids are playing outside, ______?

Identify and Correct the Mistakes in the Following Sentences

21. You are coming to the party, aren’t you?
22. She can’t swim, can she?
23. They will be here soon, won’t they?
24. He is a great singer, is he?
25. It’s not too late, is it?
26. You don’t have any pets, do you?
27. She has finished her work, hasn’t she?
28. We are going to the concert, aren’t we?
29. You like ice cream, do you?
30. They are not tired, are they?

Create Your Own Question Tags

31. I am going to the gym, ______?
32. You read that book, ______?
33. They have arrived, ______?
34. She isn’t coming with us, ______?
35. He plays football every weekend, ______?
36. We can leave early, ______?
37. You will call me later, ______?
38. It was a long day, ______?
39. They don’t understand the instructions, ______?
40. I should study more, ______?

Mixed Practice

41. You’re coming to the wedding, ______?
42. This isn’t your first time here, ______?
43. She likes to travel, ______?
44. They haven’t finished yet, ______?
45. He is a doctor, ______?
46. You can help me, ______?
47. The weather is nice today, ______?
48. We shouldn’t be late, ______?
49. You’ve met my sister, ______?
50. Nobody knows the answer, ______?

Answers

1. does she?
2. are they?
3. can you?
4. did he?
5. isn’t it?
6. haven’t you?
7. won’t they?
8. is she?
9. shouldn’t we?
10. do you?
11. wasn’t it?
12. have you?
13. isn’t he?
14. can’t they?
15. am I?
16. isn’t it?
17. does she?
18. aren’t we?
19. won’t you?
20. aren’t they?
21. (Correct as is)
22. (Correct as is)
23. (Correct as is)
24. isn’t he?
25. (Correct as is)
26. (Correct as is)
27. (Correct as is)
28. (Correct as is)
29. (Correct as is)
30. (Correct as is)
31. aren’t I?
32. didn’t you?
33. haven’t they?
34. is she?
35. doesn’t he?
36. can’t we?
37. won’t you?
38. wasn’t it?
39. do they?
40. shouldn’t I?
41. aren’t you?
42. is it?
43. doesn’t she?
44. have they?
45. isn’t he?
46. can’t you?
47. is it?
48. should we?
49. haven’t you?
50. do they?

Note: There may be some errors crept in the key. Please check once and intimate me if any error found. Thank you.

Conclusion

Mastering question tags enhances conversational skills and allows for more nuanced communication. By practicing the structure and understanding the exceptions, you can effectively use question tags to confirm information and engage in discussions.