Tuesday, November 6, 2018

HOW TO USE QUESTION TAGS

HOW TO USE QUESTION TAGS
Question tags help us to turn a statement into a question. They usually appear at the end of a sentence followed by a question mark.

§  This flower is very beautiful, isn't it?
§  Your sister is a teacher, isn't she?
§  That building is a church, isn't it?
§  We are doing well, aren't we?
§  Joe and John are twins, aren't they?

We use question tags to check whether something is true.

§  Your mother is a housewife, isn't she?
§  You're Mr Johnson, aren't you?
§  Mrs Perera is your aunt, isn't she?
§  She is a journalist, isn't she?
§  You're a teenager, aren't you?

We use question tags to find out whether someone agrees with us.
§  This novel is interesting, isn't it?
§  The meal is delicious, isn't it?
§  Your principal is a martinet (strict disciplinarian), isn't he?
§  This house is too big for us, isn't it?
§  You like this room, don't you?

There is no short form for 'am not. So, we use aren't' to form question tags.
§  I'm a doctor, aren't I?
§  I am in the volleyball team, aren't I?
§  I am a vegetarian, aren't I?
§  I am a student, aren't I?
§  I'm a child, aren't I?

We use negative question tags for positive statements.
§  It is drizaling, isn't it?
§  We're Sri Lankans, aren't we?
§  They're rich, aren't they?
§  Sunimal failed the exam, didn't he?
§  Raj built a palace, didn't he?

We use positive question tags for negative statements.
§  The boys are studying, aren't they?
§  Joe and John are twins, aren't they?
§  Martha didn't do it, did she?
§  Renga failed the exam, did he?
§  Soma didn't write the essay, did she?
§  Sigiriya is not an island, is it?
§  Mendis is not a criminal, is he?

We use contractions (short forms) in question tags.

E.g. didn’t, hasn't, isn't, wasn't, aren't etc,

We use pronouns instead of proper nouns in question tags.
§  Jacob is a banker, isn't he?
§  Sara is a dancer, isn't she?
§  The boys are studying, aren't they?
§  The fishermen Caught some big fish, didn't they?
§  Lizards are reptiles, aren't they?

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