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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 | |
|---|---|
| It's not for ships to approach, is it? | 배들 정박 때문은 아니잖아, 아냐? |
| How amazing it is, isn't it? | 정말 대단하다, 그치? |
| I guess the front left burner is the biggest, isn't it? | 아래 열 왼쪽 게 제일 센 것 같은데, 맞지? |
| Because you didn't tell me you had an apron before, did you? | 앞치마가 있다고 미리 말을 안 해줬으니까 그렇잖아, 아냐? |
| We don't need a spoon, do we? | 숟가락은 필요없지, 아냐? |
| I haven't seen her since the argument, have you? | 그때 싸운 뒤로 본 적이 없는데, 너는 봤어? |
| You are a weird man, aren't you? | 너 정말 이상한 남자구나? |
| But it seems you don't really want to, do you? | 하지만 너는 별로 그러고 싶지 않은 모양이야, 그지? |
| And bugs are not on the menu, are they? | 그런데 벌레는 메뉴에 없잖아, 안 그러냐구? |
| You didn't print out that recipe in the year 2017, did you? | 2017년에 레시피를 프린트 해왔다고? |
| Of course, but a pressure cooker is an extraordinary utensil, isn't it? | 그렇지, 하지만 압력솥은 대단한 도구인걸, 아냐? |
| Excuse me! But you said if we pay 100 more each... didn't you? | 저기요! 그치만 각자 100씩 더 내면 된다고... 네가 그랬잖아? |
| Yes, I am, it's easy to spot an Australian accent, isn't it? | 맞아. 호주 억양이 티가 나지? |
| But I see what you mean, that's interesting, isn't it? | 하지만 무슨 말하는 건지는 알겠어, 흥미로운 부분이야, 그렇지? |
| Why is it? I hope you are not homophobic, are you? | 왜 그런데? 너 호모포비아인 건 아니지, 설마? |
| Oh, he is such a nice friend, isn't he? | 어머, 정말 좋은 친구네, 그지? |
