Why are Tag Questions used?
A 'Tag Question' is a short question that 'tags onto' (follows) a statement. Tag questions are an easy way to ask for confirmation.
- We can come to your party tonight, can’t we?
How are Tag Questions formed?
Tag questions are formed like this: helping verb + subject pronoun. Usually if the statement is positive, the tag will be negative, and if the statement is negative, the tag will be positive.
- Positive statement, negative tag: It is hot outside, isn’t it?
- Negative statement, positive tag: You don’t hate me, do you?
How do we Respond to a Tag Question?
Usually, we answer tag questions with 'yes' or 'no'.
- It's hot outside, isn’t it?
- Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
- You don’t like coffee, do you?
- Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Regardless of the positivity/negativity of the tag, respond just as you would to a positive question:
- Is it hot outside?
- Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
- It's hot outside, isn't it?
- Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
Respond 'yes' when the answer is positive and respond 'no' when the answer is negative.
