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Lesson 4 - Work
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This page: Learn how to form "Tag Questions".

Tag Questions
You're the new sales representative, aren't you?
 

Tag Questions
Grammar

"Tag questions" are used to confirm what you think is true.

To form a tag question, you start with the sentence you think is true ("You speak Spanish" in the example above). The "tag" (the part of the sentence that makes it a question) is formed using an auxiliary verb in the negative if the sentence was affirmative, or an auxiliary verb in the affirmative if the sentence was negative. See the examples in the table below.

 

Affirmative Sentences
(The auxiliary verb in the "tag" is negative.)		 Negative Sentences
(The auxiliary verb in the "tag" is affirmative.)
to be
You're a teacher, aren't you? You aren't a teacher, are you?
He's tired, isn't he? He isn't tired, is he?
Present Tense
You speak English, don't you? You don't speak English, do you?
He swims, doesn't he? He doesn't swim, does he?
Past Tense
He went to school, didn't he? He didn't go to school, did he?
Present Perfect
You have finished, haven't you? You haven't finished, have you?
He has left, hasn't he? He hasn't left, has he?
Future
She will cook, won't she? She won't cook, will she?

*The only one that doesn't follow the pattern above is the affirmative form of "am". The negative form, however, follows the pattern. See the examples below.

 

Exercise - Tag Questions

Select the correct "tag" for each sentence.

1. They are students,
   

2. She is a teacher,
   

3. We are ready,
   

4. He isn't from China,
   

5. They aren't tall,
   

6. I'm not on the list,
   

7. I'm the winner, *
* IRREGULAR - Be careful!
   

8. She sings beautifully,
   

9. They live in France,
   

10. He doesn't like movies,
   

11. You don't cook well,
   

12. They moved,
   

13. She didn't leave,
   

14. You saw the show,
   

15. He has finished,
   

16. They haven't read the book,
   

17. You've gone there,
   

18. She hasn't written the article,
   

19. You will go to the party,
   

20. They won't see her,
   

21. She'll buy the present,
   

22. They can speak English,
   

23. Jennifer's a good friend,
   

24. She wouldn't be a good teacher,
   

25. He uses the computer a lot,
   

26. You can't ride a bike,
   

27. They'll love the gift,
   

28. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are from Maine,
   

29. Kim has worked in that building,
   

30. We don't have class tomorrow,
   

 

Exercise - Write the tag

Write the "tag" in the space provided. Make sure you write the question mark correctly at the end.

example
She is a nurse,

1. You are an accountant,

2. You aren't tired,

3. He is sick,

4. She isn't from Japan,

5. They live in an apartment,

6. They don't like Mexican food,

7. He speaks Chinese,

8. She doesn't live in that house,

9. They called her,

10. She didn't call him,

11. You have cleaned the house,

12. They haven't read the book,

13. She has written the letter,

14. He hasn't exercised,

15. They will finish the project,

16. She won't do the homework,

17. He's bought a new car,

18. They went to the party,

19. They're nice people,

20. He likes Italian food,

 

Find the Mistake

Instructions
Identify the error in the following sentences and write the corrected version.

example
He are a teacher. → He is a teacher. 

1. You aren't Chinese, aren't you?

2. They speak French, doesn't they?

3. You'll finish, will you?

4. I'm smart, isn't I?

5.  I want to acheive my goals.

 

Writing

Write five sentences with tag questions.

example
He speaks English, doesn't he?

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