Upper-Intermediate GW 06b-2
Upper-Intermediate GW 06b-2
Upper-Intermediate GW 06b-2
Use question tags for asking for information, or for For the following verbs or verb forms, use the auxiliary
checking and confirming information. They are used (given in brackets) in the question tag.
in informal speech at the end of affirmative or negative
sentences: Verb or verb form + Examples
(auxiliary)
It’s Lisa, isn’t it?
to be It’s Lisa, isn’t it?
There was a meeting, wasn’t there? (is, are, was, were) I’m late, aren’t I?*
Do not use them after questions: (*With I am ..., don’t say I’m late,
am not I? )
Is it Lisa, isn’t it?
You were at that meeting with
Was there a meeting, wasn’t there? León in Barcelona, weren’t you?
Always use contracted forms in the tag. There was that wonderful
reception, wasn’t there?
Don’t say: It’s Lisa, is not it?
Present simple You work for KMC, don’t you?
When the main verb is affirmative, the tag question
(do/does) You don’t know my colleague, do
is negative: you?
+ −
Past simple He went to the conference,
It’s been an interesting conference, hasn’t it?
(did) didn’t he?
When the main verb is negative, the tag question is They didn’t enjoy the
affirmative: presentation, did they?
− + Perfect and continuous The conference has been
You don’t work with León Alvarez, do you? (the same auxiliary interesting, hasn’t it?
When the subject is a pronoun, repeat the pronoun: verb) You aren’t listening to me, are you?
It’s Lisa, isn’t it? Modal verbs I should leave now, shouldn’t I?
When the subject is a noun, use an appropriate (the same modal I couldn’t buy you a drink, could I?
pronoun: auxiliary verb)
The conference has been interesting, hasn’t it? Imperative Send me your contact details,
(will/won’t) won’t you?
Punctuation Don’t forget to call me, will you?
When you write question tags, put a comma between Let’s Let’s go out for dinner again
(shall) sometime, shall we?
the main sentence and the tag: It’s Lisa, isn’t it?
Let’s not spend too long
discussing this, shall we?
Exercises
1 Write the question tags in the conversation. Then listen and check.