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Uses of tag questions:
- to give your opinion and see if the other person agrees
- use falling intonation
- This Coffee King is good, isn’t it?
- (I like Coffee King, and I want to know if you agree.)
- to ask questions and get information
- use rising intonation
- Greg is from the United States, isn’t he?
- (I think Greg’s from the US, but I’m not sure. I want you to tell me.)
Understanding the question:
- This Coffee King is good, isn’t it?
- Agree: Yes, it is.
- Disagree: I don’t think so.
- Sara isn’t here yet, is she?
- Agree: No, she isn’t.
- Disagree: I think she is.
How to use tag questions:
- Positive sentences have a negative tag.
- Negative sentences have a positive tag.
- If there is a modal verb, use the modal.
- If the verb is continuous, use ‘to be’ in the proper tense.
- If the verb is in the perfect tense, use ‘have’ in the proper tense.
- If the verb is in the simple tense, use ‘do’ in the proper tense.
Present tense:
- You eat, don’t you? You don’t eat, do you?
- You have a car, don’t you? You don’t have any money, do you?
- (have to) You have to eat, don’t you? You don’t have to stop, do you?
Past simple:
- You ate, didn’t you? You didn’t eat, did you?
Present continuous
- You’re eating, aren’t you? You’re not eating, are you?
Past continuous:
- You were eating, weren’t you? You weren’t eating, were you?
Present perfect:
- You’ve eaten, haven’t you? You haven’t eaten, have you?
Future
- (going to): You’re going to eat, aren’t you? You aren’t going to eat, are you?
Examples of Modals:
- Can You can ride a bike, can’t you? You can’t ride a bike, can you?
- Should You should eat, shouldn’t you? You shouldn’t eat, should you?
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