Tag question(a-z)

+ Positive statement,
- negative tag?

Snow is white,
isn`t it?

- Negative statement,
+ positive tag?

You don`t like me,
do you?

Some special cases:
I am right, aren`t I?
aren`t I (not amn`t I)

You have to go, don`t you?
you (do) have to go...

I have been answering, haven`t I?
use first auxiliary

Nothing came in the post, did it?
treat statements with nothing, nobody etc like negative statements

Let`s go, shall we?
let`s = let us

He`d better do it, hadn`t he?
he had better (no auxiliary)

Here are some mixed examples:
But you don`t really love her, do you?
This will work, won`t it?
Well, I couldn`t help it, could I?
But you`ll tell me if she calls, won`t you?
We`d never have known, would we?
The weather`s bad, isn`t it?
You won`t be late, will you?
Nobody knows, do they?
Intonation
We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch 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:
 
intonation
 

You don`t know where my wallet is,
do you?
/ rising
real question

It`s a beautiful view,
isn`t it?
 falling
not a real question

tag question
correct answer
 
 

Snow is white, isn`t it?
Yes (it is).
the answer is the same in both cases - because snow IS WHITE!
but notice the change of stress when the answerer does not agree with the questioner

Snow isn`t white, is it?
Yes it is!



Snow is black, isn`t it?
No it isn`t!
the answer is the same in both cases - because snow IS NOT BLACK!


Snow isn`t black, is it?
No (it isn`t).



Here are some more examples, with correct answers:
The moon goes round the earth, doesn`t it? Yes, it does.
The earth is bigger than the moon, isn`t it? Yes.
The earth is bigger than the sun, isn`t it? No, it isn`t!
Asian people don`t like rice, do they? Yes, they do!
Elephants live in Europe, don`t they? No, they don`t!
Men don`t have babies, do they? No.
The English alphabet doesn`t have 40 letters, does it? No, it doesn`t.
Question tags with imperatives
Sometimes we use question tags with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won`t for invitations. We use can, can`t, will, would for orders.
 
imperative + question tag
notes:

invitation
Take a seat, won`t you?
polite

order
Help me, can you?
quite friendly


Help me, can`t you?
quite friendly (some irritation?)


Close the door, would you?
quite polite


Do it now, will you?
less polite


Don`t forget, will you?
with negative imperatives only will is possible

Same-way question tags
Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is sometime possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-way question tags to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions.
So you`re having a baby, are you? That`s wonderful!
She wants to marry him, does she? Some chance!
So you think that`s amusing, do you? Think again.
Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:
So you don`t like my looks, don`t you?
1
He`s still sleeping,




2
You do go to school,




3
Let`s go for a walk,




4
We won`t be late,




5
Nobody called,




6
They will wash the car,




7
We must lock the doors,




8
I`m correct,




9
So you bought a car,
Congratulations!



10
You wouldn`t want to invite my Dad,



When using tag questions, watch for 4 points:      * What tense is the verb?      * What kind of verb is it? (to be/other verbs)