Tag question

1. Concepts

1.1. Concept

A tag question is a special structure in English, consisting of a clause followed by a short question, separated by a comma.

For example:

• You speak English, don’t you?
• He isn’t a doctor, is he?

Function: We use tag questions to confirm whether information is true or false. In English, tag questions mean something like: is that right?, do you agree?

Structure: The part of the clause before the comma, also known as the main clause, can be in both affirmative and negative forms. By adding an interrogative "tail" after that clause, we already have a tag question.

Note:

– The question tag is always abbreviated.

– If the questioner's voice drops at the end of the question, they really don't want to ask but are expecting the listener to agree with what they said.

– If the questioner raises his voice in the tag question, it means the speaker wants to know information from the listener.

1.2. How to use

- Ask to get information

With this usage, we will consider the tag question as an interrogative sentence. At that time, we raise our voice at the end of the sentence. The answer is similar to a normal question, we will answer Yes/No but with an additional clause containing information.

For example:

• He went to the party last night, didn’t he?

• Yes, he went to the party last night.

Or

• No, he did not go to the party last night.

• Ask to confirm information

This time, we simply ask a question to wait for the listener to agree with our opinion, then we will lower our voice at the end of the sentence. The answer is Yes/No corresponds to the main clause.

For example:

• The picture is so beautiful, isn’t it?

• Yes, it is.

• The bus isn’t coming, is it?

• No, it isn’t

2. Structure

The first rule when building tag questions is: The form of the tag is always the opposite of the main clause.

As follows:

Main clause	Final question part
Affirmative clause	Negative
Snow is white,	isn’t it?
Negative clause	Confirm
You don’t like me,	do you?

General formula:  S + V + O, auxiliary verb + subject pronoun of S?

For example:

• He’s Italian, isn’t he? – auxiliary verb is, the infinitive of he is he

• Your sister has many children, doesn’t she? – auxiliary verb does, your sister's subject pronoun is she.

2.1. Structure of questions with present tenses

This structure applies to the present simple and present continuous tenses.

2.2. Structure of past tense tag questions

This structure applies to the past simple and past continuous tenses.

	Affirmative clause, wasn't/ weren't + S?	Negative clause, was/were + S?
VerbTo be	– We were young, weren’t we? – He was studying at 7pm yesterday, wasn’t he?	– I wasn’t wrong, was I? – They weren’t sleeping at that time, were they?
Regular verbs	Affirmative clause, didn't + S? – We finished our project, didn’t we? – John ate spaghetti, did he?	Negative clause, did + S? – I didn’t know that, did I?– You didn’t trust me, did you?

2.3. Future tense tag question structure

Affirmative clause, won't + S?	Negative clause, will + S?
We will attend the game, won’t we?	You won’t go to Ho Chi Minh, will you?

2.4. Question structure with perfect tenses

Affirmative clause, haven't/hasn't/hadn't + S?	Negative clause, have/has/had + S?
– You have studied English for 10 years, haven’t you? – He has lived here since 1999, hasn’t he? – She had lived in London before moving to Rome, hadn’t she?	– Her father hasn’t been to France, has he? – I hadn’t finished my lunch before going to school, had I?

2.5. Question structure with modal verbs

Modal verbs (modal verbs) là các từ: should, can, could, may, might, must, have to.

Note: have to still needs to use the auxiliary verb, must when indicating necessity we use the tag question needn't.

Affirmative clause, modal V + not + S?	Negative clause, modal V + S?
– He should play football, shouldn’t he? – You have to go out for a while, don’t you?– John must stay at home, needn’t he?	– She cannot swim, can she? – They must not come late, must they?

ATTENTION:

– In tag questions we always use subject pronouns (I, he, it, they,..) to ask questions.

– DO NOT use object pronouns (me, you, him, her, them, us).

– DO NOT use your own name (wasn't Jack is wrong).

3. Some special cases of tag question structure

In the examples above, you have probably seen some tag questions that do not follow a fixed structure. It can be seen for example that we use “aren't I” and not “am not I”. Those are special cases of tag question structure. There are quite a few, are you ready to learn with Step Up?

Special tag question structure

3.1. For the verb "am"

Do not use “am not I” but use “aren't I” for tag questions.

For example:

• I am wrong, aren’t I?

• I am your good friend, aren’t I?

3.2. For the modal verb "must"

- When “must” indicates necessity in affirmative form, we use “needn't” for tag questions.

For example:

• They must work until 10pm, needn’t they?

- When “must” indicates a prohibition in the negative form must not, we use must for tag questions.

For example:

• You mustn’t come late, must you?

- When "must" indicates a prediction in the present, we rely on the verb following "must" to choose the appropriate verb.

For example:

• He must be a very kind man, isn’t he?

- When “must” indicates a prediction in the past (in the formula “must + have + V3/ed), we use have/has for tag questions.

For example:

• You must have visited here once, haven’t you?

3.3. For the verb "have to"

With the modal verb “have/ has/ had to”, we use the auxiliary verb “do/ does/ did” for tag questions.

For example:

• She has to go to work, doesn’t she?
• My child had to go to school yesterday, didn’t he?

3.4. For the verb "let"

When "Let” placed at the beginning of the sentence, based on the meaning that “let” convey in a sentence to choose the right verb.

- “Let’s” In a suggestion sentence, inviting someone to do something with us, we use “shall we?” for tag question.

For example:

• Let’s go to the shopping mall, shall we?
• Let’s eat dinner, shall we?

- “Let” in the sentence asking for permission to let someone do something, we use “will you?” for tag question.

For example:

• Let us use the laptop, will you?
• Let me have some drinks, will you?

- "Let" in a sentence asking to help others (let me), we use "may I?"

For example:

• Let me help you do it, may I?
• Let me lift this box for you, may I?

3.5. For imperative sentences

An imperative sentence is a sentence used to command and express the desire for someone to follow your advice.

- To express an invitation, we use "won't you" for tag questions.

For example:

• Drink some coffee, won’t you?

- To express a request, we use "will you" for the tag question.

For example:

• Take it away now, will you?

- To express orders, we use “can/ could/ would you” for tag questions.

For example:

• Go out, can’t you?

- For negative imperative sentences, only use “will you” for tag questions.

For example:

• Don’t marry her, will you?

3.6. For sentences with indefinite pronouns indicating people

When the subject of the sentence is an indefinite pronoun that refers to a person such as: Anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, nobody, everybody, everyone, somebody, someone, then we use the pronoun "they" as the subject in the tag question.

For example:

• Someone had recognized him, hadn’t they?
• Everyone will gather here, won’t they?

However, if the subject is a negative pronoun such as no one, nobody, none, the tag question will be in the affirmative form.

For example:

• Nobody remembered my date of birth, did they?
• No one is here, are they?

3.7. For sentences with indefinite pronouns indicating things

When the subject of the sentence is an indefinite pronoun denoting things such as: Nothing, something, everything, we use the pronoun "it" as the subject in the tag question.

For example:

• Everything is okay, isn’t it?
• Nothing happened, did it?

3.8. For sentences with negative subjects

Declarative sentences containing negative words such as: Neither, none, no one, nobody, nothing, scarcely, barely, hardly, hardly ever, rarely, the tag question part will be affirmative.

For example:

• Peter hardly ever goes to parties, does he?
• Neither she nor he will go, will they?

3.9. For exclamations

When the main clause is one exclamation, we take the noun in the sentence and change it to a subject pronoun, and at the same time use the auxiliary verb in front: is, are, am.

For example:

• What a beautiful day, isn’t it?
• Such a handsome guy, isn’t he?

3.10. For sentences whose subject is "one"

When the main subject in the main clause is “one”, in tag questions use “you” or “one”.

For example:

• One can be one’s master, can’t one?

• One who works hard will be successful, won’t you?

3.11. For sentences with "used to"

When clause of use structure used to to go To describe habits and actions that happened in the past, we consider "used to" to be a verb conjugated in the past tense. Therefore, the corresponding tag question only needs to borrow the auxiliary verb "did".

For example:

• She used to live here, didn’t she?
• I used to play football a lot, did I?

3.12. For sentences with "had better"

When clause of use structure had better means to advise someone, we borrow the auxiliary verb “had” to form a tag question.

For example:

• Leo had better stay, hadn’t he?
• You had better study to pass the exam, hadn’t you?

3.13. For sentences with " would rather "

When clause of use structure would rather means what you want to do, we borrow the auxiliary verb “would” to form a tag question.

For example:

• She would rather go, wouldn’t she?
• They would rather move to a new city, wouldn’t they?

3.14. For sentences with the structure "i think"

When the sentence has the following structure:

I + think/ believe/ suppose/ figure/ assume/ fancy/ imagine/ reckon/ expect/ see (main clause) + subordinate clause

We use the verb in subordination to identify auxiliary verbs for tag questions.

For example:

• I think he will come here, won’t he?
• I suppose that our company is growing  fast, isn’t it?

Note:

- If the main clause contains the word NOT, the negation still affects the subordinate clause. So the tag question must be in the opposite form, which is affirmative.

For example:

• I don’t believe he can do it, can he?

- Same structure pattern, but if the subject is not "I", then use the main verb in the sentence (think/ believe/ suppose/...) to determine the auxiliary verb for the tag question.

For example:

• She thinks he will come, doesn’t she?

3.15. For the wish sentence "wish"

When the main clause is used wish sentence wish To express wishes, we use “may” for tag questions.

For example:

• I wish to meet the doctor, may I?
• Sarah only wishes to have a new phone, may she?

3.16. For noun clauses

When the subject is a noun clause, we use “it” for tag questions.

For example:

• What she wants to do is her business, isn’t it?
• That Allen didn’t come to your party makes you very sad, doesn’t it?

3.17. For sentences with subject "this/that"

This/ that is replaced by it for tag questions.

For example:

• This is your wife, isn’t it?
• This is the bad you lost last night, isn’t it?