Question tags

Understanding question tags in English Grammar

What are question tags?

Question tags are short phrases appended to statements to convert them into questions. Typically, these tags echo the auxiliary verb or employ 'do' or 'does' for present tense statements and 'did' for past tense statements. When the statement is affirmative, the tag is negative, and vice versa.

‍

Explication in French:

Les tags questions sont de courtes phrases ajoutées aux déclarations pour les transformer en question. Généralement, ces tags reprennent le verbe auxiliaire ou utilisent 'do' ou 'does' pour les déclarations au présent et 'did' pour les déclarations au passé lorsque la déclaration est affirmative, le tag est négatif et vice -versa.

‍

Examples:

Positive to negative: Statement: you are coming to the party. question tag: aren't you? Statement: they can speak French fluently. question tag: can't they? Negative to positive: Statement: she hasn't finished her work yet. question tag: has she?

‍

Common mistakes

When using question tags in English, ensure the auxiliary verb and tense match the main sentence. For example, the correct tag for "He could see the error" is "couldn't he?" not "didn't he?" This maintains consistency and clarity in your English communication.

‍

Interactive quiz :

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Take this quiz to see if you've mastered the lesson.

‍

Quiz 1: Fill in the correct tag question

1. She speaks French fluently, ______? ● a) doesn't she? ● b) does she? ● c) isn't she?

2. They haven't finished their project yet, ______? ● a) have they? ● b) haven't they? ● c) did they?

3. You will be attending the meeting tomorrow, ______? ● a) won't you? ● b) will you? ● c) do you?

‍

Quiz 2: Choose the correct tag question

1. "He can't swim, ______?" ● a) can he? ● b) can't he? ● c) can't he?

2. She didn't eat breakfast this morning, ______? ● a) did she? ● b) didn't she? ● c) did she not?

3. "You've visited Paris before, ______? ● a) haven't you? ● b) have you? ● c) haven't you?

‍

Quiz 3: Write a sentence using the appropriate tag question

1. You hadn't considered applying for the scholarship before hearing about the benefits, ______? ● a) had you ● b) hadn't you

2. Given that everyone else is contributing, you’ll be making a donation as well, ______? ● a) won't you ● b) will you

3. Despite the team's efforts, they haven’t managed to resolve the issue yet, ______? ● a) have they ● b) haven't they

4. This museum exhibits pieces from the Renaissance period, ______? ● a) doesn't it ● b) does it

‍

The answers

Quiz 1: 1. a) doesn't she? 2. a) have they? 3. a) won't you? | Quiz 2: 1. a) can he? 2. a) did she? 3. a) haven't you? | Quiz 3: 1. a) had you? — "You hadn't considered applying for the scholarship before hearing about the benefits, had you?" 2. a) won't you? — "Given that everyone else is contributing, you’ll be making a donation as well, won't you?" 3. a) have they? — "Despite the team's efforts, they haven’t managed to resolve the issue yet, have they?" 4. a) doesn't it? — "This museum exhibits pieces from the Renaissance period, doesn't it?"