Question tags part 1

Summary

This transcript provides an in-depth explanation of question tags in English. It covers how to form question tags from both positive and negative statements, emphasizing the importance of reversing the polarity of the statement's auxiliary or modal verb. Key examples include positive statements followed by negative question tags and vice versa, as well as special cases with pronouns like 'everyone' and 'everything.' The content is structured with clear explanations and examples, making it an insightful guide for understanding and mastering the use of question tags in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Question tags are short questions added at the end of statements to confirm or encourage a response.
• 😀 Question tags are often used in speech to verify if something is true or to prompt a reply from the listener.
• 😀 A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag (e.g., 'Jack is a new PPIC staff, isn't he?').
• 😀 A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag (e.g., 'They are not disciplined, are they?').
• 😀 When forming question tags, the auxiliary verb or modal from the statement is inverted and used in the question tag.
• 😀 Pronouns must be used instead of repeating the subject (e.g., 'Jack' becomes 'he' in the question tag).
• 😀 In question tags, the auxiliary verb or modal must match the tense and subject of the main statement.
• 😀 For the special case of 'I am' in positive statements, the question tag should be 'aren't I?' instead of 'am I?'.
• 😀 'Everyone', 'someone', and 'no one' require a plural pronoun (e.g., 'Everyone is unique, aren't they?').
• 😀 Non-human subjects like 'everything' or 'nothing' use singular forms in question tags (e.g., 'Everything is expensive today, isn't it?').

Q & A

What are question tags used for in English?

Question tags are used to confirm whether something is true or not, or to encourage a reply from the person being spoken to.

How are question tags typically formed in English?

Question tags are formed using auxiliary or modal verbs from the statement, followed by the appropriate pronoun based on the subject of the sentence.

What happens when a positive statement is followed by a question tag?

When a positive statement is followed by a question tag, the tag is typically negative. For example, 'Jack is a new PPIC staff, isn't he?'

How do you form a question tag with a negative statement?

For a negative statement, the question tag is positive. For example, 'They are not disciplined, are they?'

Why do question tags always end with a question mark?

Question tags always end with a question mark because they are intended to ask for confirmation or to prompt a response.

What should be done when the subject in a sentence is a person’s name?

When the subject is a person’s name, you should replace it with the appropriate pronoun. For example, 'Jack' becomes 'he', and 'Mary' becomes 'she'.

Can question tags be used with modal verbs like 'can' and 'should'?

Yes, question tags can be formed with modal verbs, and they should follow the rule of negating a positive statement or vice versa. For example, 'You should design the organization goals, shouldn’t you?'

What is the rule for using 'everyone' in question tags?

When 'everyone' is used, the question tag must be in plural form, using 'they' as the pronoun, e.g., 'Everyone is unique, aren’t they?'

What happens when a statement has the verb 'to be' in it?

If the statement contains 'to be', the question tag will also use 'to be' in the opposite form. For example, 'She was my best partner, wasn’t she?'

Are there any exceptions when using question tags?

Yes, there is an exception with the phrase 'I am'. When 'I am' is used in a positive statement, the question tag becomes 'aren’t I?', rather than 'am not I'.