English (UK)
In English, a tag question is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag". We use question tags at the end of statements to check that something is true.
They mean something like: "Am I right?" or "Do you agree?"
They are very common in English.
Example tag questions :
Your name's Mary, isn't it?
They're getting married in July, aren't they?
You'd like to go to the theatre, wouldn't you?
Fred sat his exams last week, didn't he?
It's not going to rain this afternoon, is it?
You've been to London, haven't you?
She likes playing tennis, doesn't she?
Notice that in English we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request.
Example questions :
Direct question : "Where is the police station?" (not very polite)
Indirect question : "Do you know where the police station is?" (slightly more polite)
Negative tag question : "You wouldn't know where the police station is, would you?" (very polite)
In English we can change the meaning of a tag question with the sound of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer.
How do we answer a tag question? Often, we just say Yes or No. Sometimes we may repeat the tag and reverse it (..., do they? Yes, they do).
Notes for use of question tags :
Be very careful about answering tag questions. In some languages, an opposite system of answering is used, and non-native English speakers sometimes answer in the wrong way. This can lead to a lot of confusion! In some languages, people answer a question like "It's not raining, is it?" with "Yes" (meaning "Yes, I agree with you"). This is the wrong answer in English! In English we would reply to that question with "No" or "No, it isn't" to agree that it isn't raining.
| Question tag example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Oh, he is such a nice friend, isn't he? | |
| Of course, but a pressure cooker is an extraordinary utensil, isn't it? | |
| We don't need a spoon, do we? | |
| How amazing it is, isn't it? | |
| But I see what you mean, that's interesting, isn't it? | |
| Why is it? I hope you are not homophobic, are you? | |
| Yes, I am, it's easy to spot an Australian accent, isn't it? | |
| And bugs are not on the menu, are they? | |
| Because you didn't tell me you had an apron before, did you? | |
| I guess the front left burner is the biggest, isn't it? | |
| But it seems you don't really want to, do you? | |
| It's not for ships to approach, is it? | |
| I haven't seen her since the argument, have you? | |
| You are a weird man, aren't you? | |
| Excuse me! But you said if we pay 100 more each... didn't you? | |
| You didn't print out that recipe in the year 2017, did you? | |
