Typical English Cakes
Question tags are the short questions that we put on the end of
sentences – particularly in spoken English. There are lots of different question tags but the rules are not difficult to learn.
Positive/negative
If the main part of the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative ….
... and if the main part of the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive.
With auxiliary verbs
The question tag uses the same verb as the main part of the sentence. If this is an auxiliary verb (‘have’, ‘be’) then the question tag is made with the auxiliary verb.
Without auxiliary verbs
If the main part of the sentence doesn’t have an auxiliary verb, the question tag uses an appropriate form of ‘do’.
With modal verbs
If there is a modal verb in the main part of the sentence the question tag uses the same modal verb.
With ‘I am’
Be careful with question tags with sentences that start ‘I am’. The question tag for ‘I am’ is ‘aren’t
I?’
Intonation
Question tags can either be ‘real’ questions where you want to know the answer or simply asking for agreement when we already know the answer.
If the question tag is a real question we use rising intonation. Our tone of voice rises.
If we already know the answer we use falling intonation. Our tone of voice falls.