Русский
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 | |
|---|---|
| How amazing it is, isn't it? | Так интересно, правда? |
| And bugs are not on the menu, are they? | А жуков ведь нет в меню, правда? |
| You didn't print out that recipe in the year 2017, did you? | Ты что, распечатала рецепт в 2017 году, правда? |
| Of course, but a pressure cooker is an extraordinary utensil, isn't it? | Конечно, но скороварка - экстраординарное приспособление, разве нет? |
| But it seems you don't really want to, do you? | Но, кажется, ты в самом деле этого не хочешь, ведь так? |
| Excuse me! But you said if we pay 100 more each... didn't you? | Простите! Но ты сказал, что если мы заплатим каждый на 100 больше... Разве не говорил? |
| Why is it? I hope you are not homophobic, are you? | Почему? Надеюсь, ты не гомофоб? |
| We don't need a spoon, do we? | Нам не нужна ложка, так ведь? |
| I haven't seen her since the argument, have you? | Я не видел ее с момента ссоры, а ты? |
| Because you didn't tell me you had an apron before, did you? | Потому что ты заранее не сказал, что у вас есть фартук, так ведь? |
| I guess the front left burner is the biggest, isn't it? | Думаю, левая нижняя - самая большая, так? |
| You are a weird man, aren't you? | Ты - жуткий человек, не так ли? |
| But I see what you mean, that's interesting, isn't it? | Но я понимаю, что ты имеешь в виду, это интересно, правда? |
| It's not for ships to approach, is it? | Он не для швартовки судов, ведь так? |
| Yes, I am, it's easy to spot an Australian accent, isn't it? | Да, из Австралии, легко заметить австралийский акцент, да? |
| Oh, he is such a nice friend, isn't he? | Ой, он такой замечательный друг, правда? |
