What is tag question? 태그 질문(부가 의문)이란 게 뭐냐?

● tag ques·tion = a question converted from a statement by an appended interrogative formula, e.g. it's nice out, isn't it? A question tag (also known as question tail) is a grammatical structure in which a declarative or an imperative statement is turned into a question by the addition of an interrogative fragment (the "tag"). For example, in the sentence "You're John, aren't you?", the statement "You're John" is turned into a question by the tag "aren't you". The term "question tag" is generally preferred by British grammarians, while their American counterparts prefer "tag question". Tag questions Tag questions (or question tags) turn a statement into a question. They are often used for checking information that we think we know is true. Tag questions are made using an auxiliary verb (for example: be or have) and a subject pronoun (for example: I, you, she). Negative question tags are usually contracted: It's warm today, isn't it (not 'is it not') Usually if the main clause is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the main clause is negative, it's positive. For example: It's cold (positive), isn't it (negative)? And: It isn't cold (negative), is it (positive)? If the main clause has an auxiliary verb in it, you use the same verb in the tag question. If there is no auxiliary verb (in the present simple and past simple) use do / does / did (just like when you make a normal question). There is one weird exception: the question tag after I am is aren't I. For example: I'm in charge of the food, aren't I? ■ Postive sentences, with negative tags Present simple 'be' She's Italian, isn't she? Present simple other verbs They live in London, don't they? Present continuous We're working tomorrow, aren't we? Past simple 'be' It was cold yesterday, wasn't it? Past simple other verbs He went to the party last night, didn't he? Past continuousWe were waiting at the station, weren't we? Present perfect They've been to Japan, haven't they? Present perfect continuous She's been studying a lot recently, hasn't she? Past perfect He had forgotten his wallet, hadn't he? Past perfect continuous We'd been working, hadn't we? Future simple She'll come at six, won't she? Future continuous They'll be arriving soon, won't they? Future perfect They'll have finished before nine, won't they? Future perfect continuous She'll have been cooking all day, won't she? Modals He can help, can't he? Modals John must stay, mustn't he? ■ Negative sentences, with positive tags Present simple 'be' We aren't late, are we? Present simple other verbs She doesn't have any children, does she? Present continuous The bus isn't coming, is it? Past simple 'be' She wasn't at home yesterday, was she? Past simple other verbs They didn't go out last Sunday, did they? Past continuous You weren't sleeping, were you? Present perfect She hasn't eaten all the cake, has she? Present perfect continuous He hasn't been running in this weather, has he? Past perfect We hadn't been to London before, had we? Past perfect continuous You hadn't been sleeping, had you? Future simple They won't be late, will they? Future continuous He won't be studying tonight, will he? Future perfect She won't have left work before six, will she? Future perfect continuous He won't have been travelling all day, will he? Modals She can't speak Arabic, can she? Modals They mustn't come early, must they? Try an exercise about tag questions with the present simple here Need more practice? Get more Perfect English Grammar with our courses. Welcome to Perfect English Grammar! Welcome! I'm Seonaid and I hope you like the website. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. Speak and write more correct, more beautiful English Join my newsletter and get my new lessons by email Click here to join Privacy policy here. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.