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Using tag questions in English

Tag questions are short phrases added to the end of sentences to check information, seek confirmation, or ask for agreement. Tag questions can make requests sound softer, encourage conversation, or show doubt, making them useful in everyday English.

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A good place to start is examples with the verb "to be." Note that a positive statement is followed by a negative tag and vice versa. Additionally, the verb in the tag must match the verb in the main statement in tense and form.

 

But no! You are so excited, aren't you?

Caption 19, BBC Comedy Greats: Michael McIntyre on Google Earth

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Hello. You were searching for a hidden microphone, weren't you?

Caption 21, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four: BBC TV Movie

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Just as we use "do" to create questions, this verb is used when adding a tag question for sentences with verbs other than "to be" or auxiliary verbs. 

 

The Ambulocetus does look like a link between a land animal and a whale, doesn't it?

Caption 11, Green TV: Evolution of the Whale

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But you don't care about those, do you?

Caption 4, The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon meets James Earl Jones

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You made us what we are, didn't you?

Caption 20, Movie Trailers: Interview with the Vampire

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A sentence in the present perfect requires "have" in the tag rather than "to be" or "do." Similarly, the future tense requires "will," or "won't" if the tag is negative. 

 

You have won a few races, haven't you?

Caption 15, James Dean: Interview & Famous Drive Safely Spot

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Remember me, boy, will you?

Caption 25, Spiller Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)

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Make yourself at home! Won't you? OK.

Captions 82-83, ALF: Some enchanted evening

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Modal verbs such as "would," "should," "can," and "could" are also used in tag questions in certain instances. 

 

Just come over here and sit down, would you? -OK.

Caption 7, Campus Movie Fest: Small Talk

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Further Learning
In addition to spotting more examples on Yabla English, try to make your own sentences with the following modal verbs and suitable tag questions with "can"/"can't," "could"/"couldn't," "should"/"shouldn't" and "would"/"wouldn't."

 

A few more examples:
We can wait a few more minutes, can't we?
He wouldn't forget about it, would he? 

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