Question Tags: o que são e como formulá-las - Brasil Escola

Summary

In this video, English teacher William Carvalho explains the concept of question tags, a linguistic feature used to confirm or question information. He provides several examples across different tenses, including the present simple, past simple, and modal verbs. Through practical sentences, Carvalho emphasizes the rule that a positive statement requires a negative question tag and vice versa. The video also covers when and how to use question tags, helping viewers better understand this key aspect of English grammar. It’s a clear, engaging explanation for learners looking to master this grammatical structure.

Takeaways

• 😀 Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements to confirm or clarify information.
• 😀 In English, question tags are similar to the Portuguese 'né' and are used to confirm or question what has been said.
• 😀 If the statement is affirmative, the question tag is negative. If the statement is negative, the question tag is affirmative.
• 😀 Example of question tag with 'to be': 'I am not late, am I?'
• 😀 Example with 'are': 'Peter and Bob are home, aren't they?'
• 😀 For simple present tense, the question tag is formed with the auxiliary verb 'do' or 'does'. Example: 'Messi plays football very well, doesn't he?'
• 😀 For simple past tense, the auxiliary verb 'did' is used for the question tag. Example: 'Sena drove very fast, didn't he?'
• 😀 In modal verbs, the question tag is formed using the modal verb itself. Example: 'That plan can travel from Brazil to the USA in six hours, can't it?'
• 😀 In negative sentences, the question tag is positive. Example: 'They didn't understand the meaning of it, did they?'
• 😀 For modals like 'should', 'could', 'can', the same rule applies: affirmative sentences get negative question tags, and negative sentences get affirmative ones.
• 😀 Always remember: if the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive.

Q & A

What is a 'question tag' in English?

A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to confirm or verify information. It is often similar to the Portuguese 'né' or 'não é'.

When should we use a negative or affirmative question tag?

If the sentence is affirmative, the question tag is negative. If the sentence is negative, the question tag is affirmative.

Can you give an example of a question tag using the verb 'to be'?

Sure! An example is: 'Peter and Bob are home, aren't they?' In this case, the statement is affirmative, and the question tag is negative.

How does a question tag work in the present simple tense?

In the present simple, the question tag uses the auxiliary verb 'does' (in negative form) to refer to the main verb. For example: 'Messi plays football very well, doesn't he?'

What is the structure of a question tag in the past simple tense?

In the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb 'did' is used in its negative form for affirmative statements. For example: 'Sena drove very fast, didn't he?'

How does a question tag work with modal verbs?

With modal verbs, the question tag is created by using the modal verb in its negative form. For example: 'That plan can travel from Brazil to the USA in just six hours, can't it?'

What happens to the question tag when the sentence is negative?

If the sentence is negative, the question tag is affirmative. For example: 'They didn't understand the meaning of it, did they?'

Can you give an example of a sentence with a modal verb and a question tag?

Sure! For example: 'You shouldn't speak too loud, should you?' In this case, the modal verb 'should' is used in the question tag in its affirmative form.

What is the pattern for forming question tags in English?

The general rule is: if the sentence is affirmative, use a negative question tag; if the sentence is negative, use an affirmative question tag.

How can question tags help in everyday communication?

Question tags are useful for confirming information, engaging in conversation, and ensuring that the listener agrees with or understands the statement.