UNIT 50 Tag questions (are you? doesn't he?, etc.)
A. You're not working late, are you? It was a good film, wasn't it?
Are you? and wasn't it? are tag questions (= mini-questions that we put on the end of a sentence), In tag questions we use the auxiliary verb. For the present and past use do/does/did: They came by car, didn't they?
B. Normally we use a positive tag question with a negative sentence:
negative sentence + positive tag
Tom won't be late, will he?
They don't like us, do they?
That isn't George over there, is it?
And normally we use a negative tag question with a positive sentence:
positive sentence + negative tag
Ann will be here soon, won't she?
Tom should pass his exam, shouldn't he?
They were very angry, weren't they?
Notice the meaning of yes and no in answers to tag questions:
{ Yes. (= I am going)
- You're not going to work today, are you? {
{No. (= I'm not going)
C. The meaning of a tag question depends on how you say it. If the voice goes down you aren't really asking a question; you are only asking the other person to agree with you:
- "Tom doesn't look very well today, does he?'' ''No, he looks awful.''
- She's very attractive. She beautiful eyes, doesn't she?
But if the voice goes up, it is a real question:
- "You haven't seen Ann today, have you?" "No, I'm afraid I haven't.'' (= Have you seen Ann today?)
We often use a negative sentence positive tag to ask for things or information, or to ask someone to do something. The voice goes up at the end of the tag in sentences like these:
- "You wouldn't have a cigarette, would you?" ''Yes, here you are.''
- "You couldn't do me a favor, could you?'' ''It depends what it is.''
- "You don't know where Ann is, do you?" ''Sorry, I have no idea.''
D. After Let's . . . the tag question is shall we?:
- Let's go out for a walk, shall we?
After the imperative (do/don't do something) the tag is will you?
- Open the door, will you?
Notice that we say aren't I? (= am I not)
- I'm late, aren't I?
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