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?