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Tag Questions

A tag question is one where a statement is made, but the speaker wants a response from the listener. Like- Today's lesson is hard, isn't it? or The kids can't sing that song, can they?

First of all, to understand tag questions, you need to know about affirmative and negative sentences.

Do you know what an affirmative sentence is? It is like this: Mary is at home. or The students work hard.

Do you know what a negative sentence is? It is like this: Mary isn't at home. or The students don't work hard.

Then, you need to know that if the sentence is affirmative, the tag will be negative. And if the sentence is negative, the tag will be positive.

And finally, you need to think about the kind of verb used in the sentence. Does it use a modal, like can or will or a form of to be? Your tag question will follow the verb in the sentence. If it is a regular verb, don't forget it uses do, don't, does, doesn't when a question is asked.

	Examples Affirmative Sentence/ Negative Tag Toshi likes fishing, doesn't he? Susan is sick today, isn't she? Mike can play the piano, can't he? You will go there, won't you? Negative Sentence/ Affirmative Tag Andrew doesn't study much, does he? The dogs aren't hungry, are they? She can't cook, can she? You won't see her, will you?

You try it

Write the correct answer in the box. Check your answers by clicking on the arrows. 1. It's going to rain, ? 2. Mike is home, ? 3. Sally doesn't have a car, ? 4. You can sing well, ? 5. Mia can't swim, ? 6. She has homework today, ? 7. Isaac isn't sick, ? 8. You guys aren't going shopping, ? 9. Harry will watch TV, ? 10. You won't go, ?

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