In
informal writings or conversations, sentences are often followed by small
questions which are used to justify whether something is true or false. These
questions are referred to as question tags. Basically, question tags are
attached to sentences for agreement or confirmation.
Formation of tag questions:
1.
If the statement is affirmative, the
question tag will be negative.
It is raining
heavily, isn’t
it?
2.
If the statement is negative, the
question tag will be affirmative.
They are not
coming, are
they?
3.
A tag question is formed by two words-
an auxiliary verb (is, are, was, were, have, has, had, do, does, did etc) and a pronoun (he, she, we, they, it).
My mother cooks well, doesn’t she?
4.
There must be a comma and a question
mark.
Rules for question tags:
1. Auxiliary verbs get priority in question
tags. In fact, there can be no question tags without auxiliary verbs.
It’s a lovely
evening, isn’t
it?
He helped me in
danger, didn’t
he?
2. When an auxiliary verb ‘have’ used as
principle verb, both ‘do’ and ‘have’ are possible.
I have some
problems, haven’t/don’t I?
3. Presence of some negative words such as no, not, never, none, nothing, nobody, notwithstanding, neither, nor, hardly, hardly ever, scarcely, barely, seldom, little, few, until, unless etc
make a sentence negative. In that case, question tags will always be
affirmative.
Jim can hardly
do this, can
he?
I have little
money to spend, do/have I?
4. Sentences beginning with ‘let’s’
will always be followed by question tag ‘shall we’.
Let’s leave the
place at once, shall we?
Let’s have some
music, shall
we?
5. When statements begin with subjects like everybody, everyone, all, nobody, no one, none and one, we
use ‘they’
in question tags.
One should do
one’s duty, shouldn’t they?
None can be
absolutely happy, can they?
6.
It is used in question tag if the
statement contains subject like nothing, anything
and everything.
Everything seems
to be all right, doesn’t it?
Anything is
possible, isn’t it?
7.
‘There’ can be a subject in question
tags.
There were at
least one thousand activists, weren’t there?
8. When ‘need’ is used in the statement as
principal verb, we use any of don’t/ doesn’t/didn’t in conformity with number
and tense.
I need to go
home now, don’t I?
I need some
money, don’t
I?
9.
In case ‘need’ is used as an auxiliary
verb, it is repeated in the question tags.
You need not
worry about the expenses, need you?
10. If a statement expresses permission, the tag question is ‘will you’.
Let me do it, will you?
11. If statements are formed by subjects
like “all
of/none of/some of/ most of/everyone of + us”, ‘we’ will be used as
pronoun.
All of us fear
to die, don’t
we?
None of us is
happy, are
we?
12. If statements are formed by subjects
like “all
of/none of/some of/ most of/everyone of + them/plural noun”, ‘they’ will be used as
pronoun.
Some of them
will join the function, won’t they?
Most of the
government employees are corrupted, aren’t they?
13. If the statement is imperative and
expresses order or request, the question tag is ‘will you’.
Please do it for
me, will
you?
Shut up, will you?
14. If the statement is imperative and
expresses offer or invitation, the question tag is ‘wont you’.
Have a cup of
tea, won’t
you?
15. Statements with connecting word such as-
as well
as, together with, along with, accompanied by, and not, etc always follow
the first subject.
He as well as
his parents is coming, isn’t he?