Question tags

Test it, Fix it. English grammar - Kenna Bourke 2003

Question tags

Test it

1 Choose the best option.

a You can't use spreadsheets, can you/can't you?

b I'm right again, aren't l/amn't (?

c They haven't got a car, haven't they/have they?

d It's very cold today, isn't it/is it?

e He forgot to post the letter, hasn't he/didn't he?

f Sarah won't come, will Sarah/will she?

g The weather was terrible, wasn't it/was it?

h John's got brown eyes, has he/hasn't he?

i I look silly in this jumper, aren't l/don't 1?

j You'd like to watch the film, wouldn't you/would you?

2 Choose the best option, A or B,

a I'm not stupid, ...?

A am I

В aren't I

b They live in Japan, ...?

A live they

В don't they

c We can go by car, ...?

A can't we

В can we

d She eats meat, ...?

A isn't she

В doesn't she

e We can't leave yet, ...?

A can we

В can't we

f You won't tell anyone,.... ...?

A will you

В are you

g They'll come to the party, ...?

A won't they

В can't they

h You can't come tomorrow, ...?

A do you

В can you

i I'm wrong, ...?

A aren't I

В amn't I

j Beethoven was German, ...?

A wasn't he

В was he?

Test it again

1 Write the correct question tag for each of these statements.

a You haven’t eaten all the cake, ...?

b Cats can swim, ...?

c Leo doesn't know Martin, ...?

d I'm going to be late, ...?

e Shirley won't mind, ...?

f You bought some milk, ...?

g The meal last night was delicious, ...?

h John didn't read the email, ...?

i It's going to rain, ...?

j She's got the keys, ...?

2 Write the correct question tags in the dialogue.

Nick: You went to the match yesterday, a...?

Jim: No, I missed it. But they're showing it on Channel 5 tonight, b...?

Nick: Yes. You couldn't record it for me, c ...?

Jim: Yes, sure. Oh that's right! You've got to work tonight, d ...?

Nick: Unfortunately, yes. I'm a bit stupid really, e ...?

Jim: No. Why? You didn't volunteer to work tonight, f ...?

Nick: Yes, I did. The boss needed some extra help.

Jim: Oh dear. Sarah's going to be furious, g ...?

Nick: Why? I haven't forgotten something, h ...?

Jim: Well, it's your anniversary today, i ...?

Oh no, Nick! You haven't bought her a present, j ...?

Fix it

Answers to Test it

Check your answers. Wrong answer?

Read the right Fix it note to find out why.F

1 a can you? → B

 b arren't I? → E

 c have they? → B

 d isn't it? → A

 e didn't he? → B

 f will she? → C

 g wasn't it? → A

 h hasn't he? → A

 i don't i? → D

 j wouldn't you? → A

2 a A → B f A → C

 b B → D g A → C

 c A → A h B → C

 d B → D i A → E

 e A → B j A → A

Now go to page 79. Test yourself again.

Answers to Test it again

1 a have you? f didn't you?

 b can't they? g wasn't it?

 c does he? h did he?

 d aren't I? i isn't it?

 e will she? j hasn't she?

2 a didn't you?

 b aren't they?

 c could you?

 d haven't you?

 e aren't I?

 f did you?

 g isn't she?

 h have I?

 i isn't it?

 j have you?

Fix it notes

A

Use a negative question tag if the statement is positive.

В

Use a positive question tag if the statement is negative.

C

Make question tags with auxiliary verb + pronoun or be+ pronoun, depending on what's used in the statement.

D

If there isn't an auxiliary verb or be in the statement, use the correct form of do in the question tag.

E

The negative question tag for I am/l'm is aren't I?

Review

Question tags

• Question tags are extremely common in spoken English. They're used for two reasons: one is to ask a real question when you're not sure what the answer is; the other is to ask for someone's agreement or to check that they think the same as you do.

Jane's a vegetarian, isn’t she? (Real question. I'm not 100% sure of the answer.)

It's really cold today, isn't it? (I expect you to agree with me.)

• There are three ways of making question tags.

• You use a negative question tag if the statement is positive.

I'm silly, aren't I?

You've got a car, haven't you?

They can do it, can't they?

She'll come, won't she?

He likes fish, doesn't he?

• You use a positive question tag if the statement is negative.

/ wasn't listening, was I?

It can't possibly work, can it?

We haven't got any milk, have we?

You won't tell her, will you?

They didn't ring, did they?