Italiano
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 | |
|---|---|
| Of course, but a pressure cooker is an extraordinary utensil, isn't it? | Naturalmente, ma una pentola a pressione è un utensile straordinario, non è così? |
| Because you didn't tell me you had an apron before, did you? | Perché non mi hai detto che avevi un grembiule prima, giusto? |
| You didn't print out that recipe in the year 2017, did you? | Non avrai per caso stampato la ricetta nell’anno 2017, vero? |
| We don't need a spoon, do we? | Non ci serve un cucchiaio, vero? |
| Excuse me! But you said if we pay 100 more each... didn't you? | Scusami! Ma hai detto si paghiamo 100 in più a testa… Non è vero? |
| How amazing it is, isn't it? | Straordinario, non è vero? |
| It's not for ships to approach, is it? | Non è per far attraccare le barche, vero? |
| Why is it? I hope you are not homophobic, are you? | E perché? Spero che tu non sia omofobico, non è così? |
| I haven't seen her since the argument, have you? | Non l’ho vista dalla discussione, e tu? |
| You are a weird man, aren't you? | Sei un uomo strano, vero? |
| And bugs are not on the menu, are they? | E gli insetti non sono sul menu, vero? |
| But I see what you mean, that's interesting, isn't it? | Ma capisco cosa intendi, interessante, non è vero? |
| Yes, I am, it's easy to spot an Australian accent, isn't it? | Sì, è facile distinguere l’accento australiano, vero? |
| Oh, he is such a nice friend, isn't he? | Oh, è proprio un buon amico, non è vero? |
| I guess the front left burner is the biggest, isn't it? | Suppongo che quello in fondo a sinistra sia il più grande, vero? |
| But it seems you don't really want to, do you? | Ma sembra che tu non voglia proprio farlo, vero? |
