A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a • A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a ministatement followed question. whole sentence question. The whole sentence is is a a "tag question", and the mini"tag question", the end is called a question at and the mini"question tag". question at the end is called a "question tag".
A "tag" is something small that we add to something larger. For example, the little piece of cloth added to a shirt showing size or washing instructions is a tag. We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like: "Am I right? " or "Do you agree? " They are very common in English.
Have you? and wasn't it? are question tags (= mini-questions that we often put on the end of a sentence in spoken English). In question tags, we use an auxiliary verb (have/was/will etc. ). We use do/does/did for the present and past simple : • 'Karen plays the piano, doesn't she? ' 'Well, yes, but not very well. ' • 'You didn't lock the door, did you? ' 'No, I forgot. '
Normally we use a negative question tag. . . and a positive question tag after a a positive sentence: negative sentence: positive sentence + negative tag Kate will be here soon, won't she? There was a lot of traffic, wasn't there? Michael should pass the exam, shouldn't he? negative sentence + positive tag Kate won't be late, will she? They don't like us, do they? You haven't got a car, have you?
Notice the meaning of yes and no in answer to a negative sentence: • You're not going out today, are you? Yes. (= Yes, I am going out I No. (= No, I am not going out)
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