Question Tag

Question tags are not really a question instead it is a confirmation about a statement asked from a speaker whether the statement is right or wrong. Generally it is not used in written English rather than spoken English.

                    Making a tag is very mechanical. To make a tag, use the first auxiliary. If there is no auxiliary, use do, does or did. With a positive sentence, make a negative tag and with a negative sentence, make a positive tag.

Anomalous finite is used to make question tags so it would be better to remember the 24 contracted form of anomalous finite.

	Full Form	Contracted
	Do+not	Don't
	Does+not	Doesn't
	Did+not	Didn't
	Is+not	Isn't
	Are+not	Aren't
	Have+not	Haven't
	Has+not	Hasn't
	Had+not	Hadn't
	Was+not	Wasn't
	Were+not	Weren't
	Shall+not	Shan't
	Will+not	Won't
	Can+not	Can't
	May+not	Mayn't
	Might+not	Mightn't
	Could+not	Couldn't
	Would+not	Wouldn't
	Should+not	Shouldn't
	Ought+not	Oughtn't
	Must+not	Mustn't
	Need+not	Needn't
	Dare+not	Daren't
	Used+not	Usedn't
	Am I Not?	Aren't I?

PATTERNS OF QUESTION TAGS

1. Anomalous Finite+Subject?

2. Anomalous Finite+n't+Subject?

Types of Question Tags

1. Positive Question Tags

2. Negative Question Tags

1. Positive Question Tags-When the given sentence is negative we use positive question tags.

Ex. He is not a good boy.

He is not a good boy, is he?

2. Negative Question Tags-When the given sentence is positive we use negative question tags.

Ex. She is a good girl.

She is a good girl, isn't she?

3. The subject of question tags is a 'Pronoun' or introductory 'There'. 

4. A noun can never be the subject of Question tags.
Ex. Radha is a beautiful girl. ⟹ Radha is a beautiful girl, isn't Radha?(✘)
Radha is a beautiful girl, isn't she?(✔)

Rules of Question Tags

1. If the statement is positive a negative question tag is used.

Ex. You take tea. ⟹ You take tea, don't you?

She is a beautiful girl. ⟹ She is a beautiful girl, isn't she?

Radha is an intelligent girl. ⟹ Radha is an intelligent girl, isn't she?

I am your friend. ⟹ I am your friend, aren't I?

Note-Remember 'Amn't I?' is not used in the English grammar if you need to use  'Amn't I?' use 'Aren't I?' instead.

2. If the statement is negative a positive question tag is used.

Ex. You do not take tea. ⟹ You do not take tea, do you?

She will not help you. ⟹ She will not help you, will she?

Note-(a) Sometimes there is no negative verb in the sentence but some words which may be subject, object, adjective, or adverb and make the sentence negative. And mind that positive question tags are used with it.

(b) Negative does not mean that there should be a negative adverb in the sentence sometimes we find that there is no word like "Not or No" still the sentence gives negative sense. Now remember the negative words that don't look like negative but have negative sense and that is why positive question tag is used with it.

Nobody	No one	Nothing	Nowhere	None
Neither	Nor	Few	Little	Never
Hardly	Scarcely	Rarely	Seldom	No

Ex. No one knows this. ⟹ No one knows this, are they?

Few people will come here. ⟹ Few people will come here, will they?

He knows little about her. ⟹ He knows little about her, does he?

Note- But A few and A little are positive expression and Negative question is used with it.

Ex. They have a little money. ⟹ They have a little money, haven't they?

Only a few students will get the awards. ⟹ Only a few students will get the awards, won't they? 

2. If the sentence showing request or command generally the question tag will be "Will you? or Won't you?". "Will you?" is used with negative request/command and "Won't you?" is used with positive request/command.

Ex. Don't go there. ⟹ Don't go there, will you?

Open the window. ⟹ Open the window, won't you?

Please pass me your notebook. ⟹ Please pass me your notebook, won't you?

Note- (a.) To show "Urgency" "Won't you" is used with both negative and positive "request/command".

Ex. Remember to shut the door. ⟹ Remember to shut the door, won't you?

Be careful while counting rupees. ⟹ Be careful while counting rupees, won't you?

(b) When imperative sentence shows rebuke/irritation "Can't you?" is used in the question tag.

Ex. Use your own pen. ⟹ Use your own pen, can't you?

Use your own sense. ⟹ Use your own sense, can't you?

3. If the sentence begins with "Let's/Let us". "Shall we?" is used in the question tag.

Ex. Let's dance here itself. ⟹ Ex. Let's dance here itself, shall we?

Let us play together. ⟹ Let us play together, shall we?

Note- But if "Him, her, them, Ram" is used after "Let" "Will you?" is used with it. Such sentences show "request or wish".

Ex. Let him go away today. ⟹ Let him go away today, will you?

Let them play cricket here. ⟹ Let them play cricket here, will you?

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