Page 7 - LESSON NOTES -QUESTION TAGS

Exceptions:

Some verbs / expressions have different
question tags. For example:

Statements begin with I’m
We use the verb form are/aren’t I when
the subject is the first person singular.
Example:
▪ I’m intelligent, aren’t I?
I am - I am attractive, aren't I?

With Imperatives:
Sometimes question tags are used with imperatives (invitations, orders),
but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct
answer. We use won’t you for invitations, and can you/can’t you/will
you/would you for orders.
Example:
▪ Open the window, will you? (order – less polite)
▪ Take a seat, won’t you? (invitation – polite)
When we use the there… structure, there is reflected in the tag.
Example:
▪ There‘s nothing wrong, is there?
▪ There weren’t any problems when you talked to Jack, were there?

Positive imperative –

Stop daydreaming, will / won't you?

Negative imperative –

Don't stop singing, will you?

Let's - Let's go to the beach, shall we?

Have got (possession) - He has got a car, hasn't he?

There is / are - There aren't any spiders in the bedroom, are there?

This / that is - This is Paul's pen, isn't it?

Statements with Negative Adverbs:
The adverbs never, seldom, hardly, rarely, … have a negative sense.
We treat statements with these words like negative statements, so the
question tag is normally positive.