QUESTION TAGS

What is a question tag? 

A question tag is a clause that changes a statement into a question.

 Example:

 It is time to go to school, isn't it?

 Why do we use them?

 Though we know something (some information, a fact) we want to confirm whether it is true or not. In some cases, we want to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to. In these situations, question tags help us to make the conversation effectively.

 Where should we use them?

 In writing, we make question tags in conversations and stories. In speaking we use them in a  conversation to make it an interesting one. One's effectiveness of communication is often judged by the use of question tags.

 RULES OF QUESTION TAGS

  A positive statement (clause) turns the question tag into a negative.

A negative statement (clause) turns the question tag into a positive.

Examples:

 You can do this, can't you?

 You cannot do this, can you?

The subject in the statement (noun) turns into an appropriate pronoun in the tag.

Examples:

John is going to market, isn't he?

Here, the appropriate pronoun for John is "he".

Rosy can do this, can't she?

Here, the appropriate pronoun for Rosy is "she".

 John and Rosy are good friends, aren't they?

Here, the appropriate pronoun for John and Rosie is "they".

We have done our homework, haven't we?

Here, "we" in the subject place is a pronoun. So the same pronoun fit in the question tag.

Verbs in the tags are always used in short forms. 

Example:

She is working hard, isn't she?

A comma is placed between a statement and a question tag.

Example:

I can go there, can't I?

A mark of interrogation is placed at the end of a question tag.

Example:

He was playing cricket when I met him, wasn't he?

LIST OF SHORT FORMS.

am ×......

is × isn't

are × aren't

was × wasn't

were × weren't

do × don't

does × doesn't

did × didn't

have × haven't

has × hasn't

had × hadn't

can × can't 

could × couldn't

will × won't

would × wouldn't

shall × shan't

should × shouldn't

may × mayn't

might × mightn't

must × mustn't

ought (to) × oughtn't

need × to needn't

dare × daren't

WAYS TO MAKE QUESTION TAGS

Statements with helping verbs or  modals along with the main verbs in them:

Examples:

John is a lawyer, isn't he?

 John is not a lawyer, is he?

 We are good friends, aren't we?

 We are not good friends, are we?

 She was taking a class, wasn't she?

  She was not taking a class, was she?

We were going to college, weren't we?

 We were not going to college, were we?

I have finished my homework, haven't I?

 I have not finished my homework, have I?

She has drawn a picture, hasn't she?

  She has not drawn a picture, has she?

They had finished the task, had they?

  They had not finished the task, had they?

Exception:

I am a doctor, ain't I?  ×

I am a doctor, aren't I? 

But

I am not a doctor, am I? √

Statements without helping verbs or modals but with the main verbs in them:

Statements with the present form of main verbs have question tags with "do" or "does".

 Statements with simple past forms of main verbs have question tags with "did".

Examples:

He lives in India, doesn't he?

They always play on the ground, don't they?

It rained yesterday, didn't it?

Statements with have farms ( have has, had ) without any other verb have question tags with "do", "does" or "did" (possession)

Examples:

They have a child, don't they?

She has a nice car, doesn't she?

We had a happy moment, didn't we?

Statements of request (positive or negative) have " will you?" as the tag.

Examples:

Have some more milk, will you?

Don't bring it to me, will you?

Help her, will you?

Please help her, will you?

Try to finish it, won't you? ( more urgency)

Be polite to your teachers, won't you? ( request with the force of entreaties)

Use your brain, can't you? ( imperative expresses impatience)

To seek help and to know the information it is better to make your statement negative.

Examples:

You couldn't lend me a book, could you?

You didn't see me yesterday at the library, did you?

If 'that' is a subject in the statement, it has a pronoun 'it' in the question tag.

Example:

That is the salesman, isn't it?

 Statements with negative words such as never, no, anybody, hardly, scarcely, little have the question tags positive.

                              Example:

You never say that you are a student, do you?

There is little to expect about it, is there?

                            It has no use, has it?          

Statements ( suggestions ) with "let us" have question tags with 'shall we?'

Examples:

Let's attend the meeting, shall we?

Let's call our friends to the party, shall we?                       

"Nothing" and "everything" has the pronouns "it" in the question tag.

                           Examples:

    Nothing can happen, can it?

Everything can happen, can't it?

"Nobody", "somebody", " everybody", "no one" etcetara have their pronouns in plural in question tags.

                          Examples:

           Nobody slept, did they?

Somebody wanted a treat, didn't they?

Same way question tags with positive statements are used to express interest, sympathy or concern.

                           Examples:

You think you can win the game, do you?

This is the last chance to meet him, is it?

Same way question tags with negative statements are used. They sound aggressive.

Examples:

You don't obey my words, don't you?

You are not capable to finish this task, aren't you?

                          INTONATION

In speaking we follow a rising tone with a  question tag when you want to know something that is not known to you earlier.

We follow a falling tone with a question tag when you want to confirm or agree on something that is known to you earlier.

The same is known according to the context of writing.

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