Amer Sadiq
مدير
المساهمات : 61
تاريخ التسجيل : 05/01/2011
العمر : 56
 |  موضوع: Question Tags  الخميس يناير 13, 2011 1:16 pm | |
| Question tags are small questions "tagged" on to the end of a sentence to make a question. For example
Sentence:- She speaks English
Question:- Does she speak English
?Question Tag:- She speaks English, doesn't she
Form
Question tags are made from an auxiliary verb and the subject
If the sentence is affirmative, we usually use a negative tag, for example
That's a great song, isn't it
? She's a lawyer, isn't she
If the sentence is negative, the tag is positive. For example
?You're not busy, are you
? This way isn't right, is it
The auxiliary verb and subject in the question tag match those in the
main sentence. Only the positive and negative past changes
For example
? He can play the trumpet, can't he
? You haven't finished yet, have you
Here the subject is in blue, and the auxiliary verb in green. It's just
whether each part of the question is positive or negative that changes
Function
Question tags have two main purposes: to confirm expected
information and to question unexpected information. You can tell
which function is being used by the voice - when the voice goes
down it's checking expected information - when the voice goes up
it's really asking a question. For example
?Intonation going down - You haven't finished yet, have you
I expect you haven't finished, I'm just checking
? Intonation going up - You haven't finished yet, have you
I'm really asking if you're finished or not. If you are finished it's earlier than I expected, so I'm surprised
You're really busy now, aren't you? - Yes, I've got to finish this by Monday
I'm confirming you're busy now, possibly showing sympathy as well
?Why are you watching TV? You're really busy now, aren't you
Not really, I did most of it last nightI think you're busy but I'm
surprised, you should be working not watching TV, so I'm asking about an unexpected situation
Negative sentences with positive tags are often used for requests
for example
? You don't have a pencil, do you
? You couldn't change a $5 bill, could you
Imperative questions tags usually use will, for example
?Open the door for me, wil you
? Hang on a minute, will you
Unless used with informal language, question tags with
imperatives can often sound impatient
Question tags are an important part of natural speech and are
particularly useful in small talk, as they help to confirm and affirm
key information in a sympathetic way
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