TAG QUESTIONS
Tag question is
a statement which has been transformed into a question by putting
a question tag at the end. Rule: Use a
question tag based on the subject-verb of the sentence. In the
basic tag question formation, the rules below apply.
SUBJECT+ VERB (POSITIVE) .... .., (NEGATIVE)
VERB+SUBJECT ? eg: She came, didn't she? OR
She did come, didn't she? They are happy to be here, aren't
they?
SUBJECT+ VERB (NEGATIVE)
.... , (POSITIVE) VERB+SUBJECT ? eg: She
doesn't like chores, does she? They haven't been informed,
have they?
However, this section will explain to you the
exceptions of tag question formation. Not all sentence types
follow the general rules above. The exceptions are as listed
below.
1)
|
negative
adverbs |
|
Sentences with
negative adverbs such as hardly,never,barely,
rarely,scarcely,seldom do not have a negative question tag
at the end.
They
seldom come, don't
they?
They
seldom come, do
they?
He is
never available, isn't
he?
He is
never available, is
he?
|
2) |
quantifiers with negative
meaning |
|
Sentences with
quantifiers denoting negative meaning such as no,none of, not one,neither of, not any, few,
little, hardly any, scarcely any, not many do not
require a negative question tag at the end.
Note: |
The question
tag for "few/not many/not
one+NOUN" is .....they? |
|
The question
tag for "little+NOUN" is
.....it? |
|
The question
tag for "no/scarcely
any/hardly any/barely any/none of+ Countable
NOUN" is .....they? |
|
The question
tag for "no/scarcely
any/hardly any/barely any/none of+ Uncountable
NOUN" is .....it? |
|
The question
tag for "few/not many/not
one/none/scarcely any/hardly any/barely
any+of+us" is .....we? |
|
The question
tag for "few/not many/not
one/none/scarcely any/hardly any/barely
any+of+you" is .....you? |
Few men
have the proper values to live through this age, don't
they?
Few men
have the proper values to live through this age, do they?
Little
money was invested in this scheme, wasn't
it?
Little
money was invested in this scheme, was it?
|
3) |
Pronouns
with negative meanings |
|
The subject of the
sentence with negative meaning (none,
nothing,neither, nobody,not many, few, little, hardly any,
scarcely any) does not require a negative question
tag at the end
Note: |
The question
tag for "none/nothing/not
many/few/nobody/neither" is
.....they? |
|
The question
tag for "nothing" is
.....it? |
|
The question
tag for "little+NOUN" is
.....it? |
None
would survive the next world war, wouldn't
they?
None
would survive the next world war, would
they?
Nothing
is free these days, isn't
it?
Nothing
is free these days, is
it?
|
4) |
Let's and
Let |
|
When you use the
word "let's", the question tag at the end must be
"shall+we?"
Let's
visit the Archeological Museum, don't
we?
Let's
visit the Archeological Museum, shall
we? When you use the word "let", the
question tag at the end must be
"will/won't+you?"
Let the
prisoners go, could
you?
Let the
prisoners go, will
you?
Let the
prisoners go, won't
you?
|
5) |
Imperative
sentences |
|
When the sentence
is imperative, the question tag at the end must be
"will/won't+you?"
Come
over for tea today, can
you?
Come
over for tea today, will
you?
Come
over for tea today, won't
you?
Do try
these lovely scones, wouldn't
you?
Do try
these lovely scones, will
you?
Do try
these lovely scones, won't
you?
|
6) |
Short
observations |
|
When you are
making short observations about something non-living, the
question tag at the end must be
"isn't/aren't+it?"
Nice
day, ain't
it?
Nice
day, isn't
it?
(It
is a nice day,isn't
it?) When you are making short observations
about the something living, the question tag at the end must
be "isn't/aren't+she/he/they?" >
Lovely
girl, doesn't
she?
Lovely
girl, isn't
she?
(She
is a lovely girl, isn't
she?)
Beautiful creatures, isn't
it?
Beautiful creatures, aren't
they?
(They are beautiful creatures, aren't
they?)
|
7) |
Stating
intentions |
|
When you wish to
do something, the question tag at the end must be
"may+I?"
I wish
to leave now, don't
I?
I wish
to leave now, may
I? |
|