A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question 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. The basic structure is: Look at these examples with positive statements: Look at these examples with negative statements: Some special cases: Here are some mixed examples: Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request. For example, instead of saying "Where is the police station?" (not very polite), or "Do you know where the police station is?" (slightly more polite), we could say: "You wouldn't know where the police station is, would you?" Here are some more examples: 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: How do we answer a tag question? Often, we just say Yes or No. Sometimes we may repeat the tag and reverse it (..., do they? Yes, they do). Be very careful about answering tag questions. In some languages, an oposite system of answering is used, and non-native English speakers sometimes answer in the wrong way. This can lead to a lot of confusion! For example, everyone knows that snow is white. Look at these questions, and the correct answers: In some languages, people answer a question like "Snow isn't black, is it?" with "Yes" (meaning "Yes, I agree with you"). This is the wrong answer in English! Here are some more examples, with correct answers: 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. 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. Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:Tag Questions
You speak English, don't you? 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. +
Positive statement,-
negative tag?Snow is white, isn't it? -
Negative statement,+
positive tag?You don't like me, do you? positive statement [+] negative tag [-] notes: subject auxiliary main verb auxiliary not personal
pronoun
(same as subject) You are coming, are n't you? We have finished, have n't we? You do like coffee, do n't you? You like coffee, do n't you? You (do) like... They will help, wo n't they? won't = will not I can come, can 't I? We must go, must n't we? He should try harder, should n't he? You are English, are n't you? no auxiliary for main verbbe present & past John was there, was n't he? negative statement [-] positive tag [+] subject auxiliary main verb auxiliary personal
pronoun
(same as subject)It is n't raining, is it? We have never seen that, have we? You do n't like coffee, do you? They will not help, will they? They wo n't report us, will they? I can never do it right, can I? We must n't tell her, must we? He should n't drive so fast, should he? You are n't English, are you? John was not there, was he? 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) Intonation
intonation You don't know where my wallet is, do you? / rising real question It's a beatiful view, isn't it? \ falling not a real question Answers to tag questions
A question tag is the "mini-question" at the end. A tag question is the whole sentence. Answer a tag question according to thetruth of the situation. Your answer reflects the real facts, not (necessarily) the 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 itis! Snow is black, isn't it? No itisn't! the answer is the same in both cases - because snow IS NOT BLACK! Snow isn't black, is it? No (it isn't). Question tags with imperatives
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
Postado por
PROFESSOR ILÁZARO FIGUEIREDO
segunda-feira, 18 de maio de 2009
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