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English grammar

Tags that do more than check

C1 · Advanced Asking questions Questions 10

The rule

B1 taught tags that check a fact (It’s cold, isn’t it?). C1 adds the special forms and what they do. After an imperative, will you?, would you? or can you? make a request (Pass the salt, would you?) and won’t you? a warm invitation (Sit down, won’t you?); a negative imperative takes will you? (Don’t forget, will you?). After Let’s the tag is shall we?; after I am, aren’t I?. Negative words — nobody, nothing, never, hardly, scarcely — take a positive tag (Nobody called, did they?), and nobody/everybody take they. there repeats in the tag (There’s a problem, isn’t there?). Same-way tags (positive + positive) show interest, surprise or suspicion: So you’re the new manager, are you?; You think that’s funny, do you? With a falling tone a tag asks for agreement; with a rising tone it is a real question. Reply questions keep a conversation going: “I’ve passed!” — “Have you? Well done!”

Pattern

imperative + will / would / can you? (request) · won’t you? (invitation) · Let’s …, shall we? · I’m …, aren’t I? · nobody / nothing / hardly … + positive tag (nobody → they) · same-way tag: You’re …, are you? (interest, suspicion) · reply question: Have you? / Does she?

Examples

  1. Let’s take a short break, shall we?

  2. I’m on the list, aren’t I?

  3. Nobody has called, have they?

  4. So you’re Anna’s brother, are you?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I’m late, am not I?

    Right: I’m late, aren’t I?

    After I am, the tag is aren’t I?

  • Wrong: Let’s go, will we?

    Right: Let’s go, shall we?

    After Let’s, the tag is shall we?

  • Wrong: Nothing is wrong, isn’t it?

    Right: Nothing is wrong, is it?

    A negative word like nothing takes a positive tag.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    Let’s order a pizza, _____?

    1. shall we
    2. will we
    3. don’t we
    4. do we
    Show answer

    Answer: A Let’s order a pizza, shall we?

    After Let’s: shall we?

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I’m next in the queue, aren’t I?
    2. I’m next in the queue, don’t I?
    3. I’m next in the queue, isn’t I?
    4. I’m next in the queue, am not I?
    Show answer

    Answer: A I’m next in the queue, aren’t I?

    After I am: aren’t I?

  3. 3This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Nobody saw us, didn’t they?

    1. Nobody saw us, weren’t they?
    2. Nobody saw us, did he?
    3. Nobody saw us, didn’t anybody?
    4. Nobody saw us, did they?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Nobody saw us, did they?

    Nobody is negative: positive tag with they.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    What is the speaker doing?

    Pass me the salt, would you?

    1. Refusing the salt
    2. Complaining about the salt
    3. Making a polite request
    4. Asking a real question about the salt
    Show answer

    Answer: C Making a polite request

    Imperative + would you? = a polite request.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Add a tag to make it an invitation.

    Have another biscuit.

    1. Have another biscuit, isn’t it?
    2. Have another biscuit, won’t you?
    3. Have another biscuit, haven’t you?
    4. Have another biscuit, don’t you?
    Show answer

    Answer: B Have another biscuit, won’t you?

    won’t you? after an imperative is a warm invitation.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the same-way tag show?

    So you’ve finished already, have you?

    1. That the listener has not finished
    2. That the speaker is angry about work
    3. That the speaker is asking permission
    4. Surprise or mild suspicion
    Show answer

    Answer: D Surprise or mild suspicion

    Positive + positive tag = surprise or suspicion.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    Don’t forget to lock up will you

    Show answer

    Answer: Don’t forget to lock up will you?

    After a negative imperative, the tag is will you?

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    1. There isn’t any milk left, isn’t it?
    2. There isn’t any milk left, is it?
    3. There isn’t any milk left, is there?
    4. There isn’t any milk left, are there?
    Show answer

    Answer: C There isn’t any milk left, is there?

    there repeats in the tag.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    You are replying to good news.

    “I’ve passed my driving test!” — “_____ you? Well done!”

    1. Did
    2. Had
    3. Are
    4. Have
    Show answer

    Answer: D “I’ve passed my driving test!” — “Have you? Well done!”

    A reply question repeats the auxiliary: Have you?

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    Which tag goes with this sentence?

    He hardly ever calls his mother.

    1. doesn’t he?
    2. is he?
    3. isn’t he?
    4. does he?
    Show answer

    Answer: D does he?

    hardly is negative, so the tag is positive.

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