A tag question is a statement turned into a question, when asking for confirmation or disconfirmation of that statement. They can be an indicator of politeness, emphasis, or irony. They may suggest confidence or lack of confidence; they may be confrontational or tentative. For more details, please see http://elisaenglish.pixnet.net/blog/post/639570
Here are some exercises. Move the mouse next the answers to reveal the answers. The trick is to find out the focus of the sentence. What is the asker trying to confirm or validate? Is it a sarcastic statement or a confrontational statement? Is it a suggestion, an invitation or an order?
Exercises:
1) People said that I look like my mom, ___ ?
(a) didn’t they
(b) don’t I
(c) did they
(d) do I
Answer: (b). The question is to confirm with you or ask you if I look like my mom.
Or (a). You can argue that the question is to confirm with you that people said such a thing.
2) If I have known the answer, I would have told you, ___?
a) wouldn’t I
b) haven’t I
c) don’t I
d) would I
Answer: (a). The question is to confronted with you that I would have told you if I have known the answer.
3) To get to this level, it is most rewarding, ___?
a) will you
b) isn’t it
c) won’t you
d) is it
Answer: (b). The question is to confirm with you that it is most rewarding to get to this level.
4) So you think we won’t notice when you skip classes, ___?
a) will we
b) won’t we
c) do you
d) don’t you
Answer: (c). This is an ironic statement. Use positive statement, positive tag?
5) A: “I am the smartest guy in the whole universe.” B: “So you are, ___?”
a) am I not
b) am I
c) aren’t you
d) are you
Answer: (d). This is an ironic statement. Use positive statement, positive tag?
6) I just like peanut butter and sandwich, ___?
a) do I
b) don’t I
c) do you
d) don’t you
Answer: (d). I am asking if you like peanut butter and sandwich as I do.
7) A: "Dogs are not allowed here." B: "So you don’t think they are adorable, ___?”
a) aren’t they
b) don’t you
c) do you
d) are they
Answer: b). This is a confrontational statement. Use negative statement, negative tag?
8 ) You think you are the best, ____?
a) aren’t you
b) don’t you(
c) do you
d) are you
Answer: (c). This is an ironic statement. Use positive statement, positive tag?
9) After the divorce, you would think she had forgiven him, ___?
a) wouldn’t you
b) would you
c) hadn’t she
d) had she
Answer: (a). The question is to confirm with you or ask you if you would think that she had forgiven him.
10) From the number of accidents he encountered in a week, he might need to see an exorcist, ___?
a) didn’t he
b) did he
c) might he
d) mightn’t he
Answer: (d). The question is to confirm with you that he might need to see an exorcist.
11) You may think that you are right, but you aren’t, ___?
a) may you
b) may you not
c) are you
d) aren’t you
Answer: (c). The question is to confirm with you that you are not right.
12) After showing her his loyalty for so many years, he deserves to be rewarded, ____?
a) doesn’t he
b) does he
c) won’t he
d) will he
Answer: (a). The question is to confirm with you that he deserves to be rewarded.
13) Have another cigarette, ____?
a) will you
b) won’t you
c) have you
d) haven’t you
Answer: (b). I am suggesting/inviting you to have another cigarette.
14) Stop smoking, ____?
a) will you
b) won’t you
c) did you
d) didn’t you
Answer: (a). I am begging you to stop smoking.
Or (b). I am requesting that you stop smoking. The tone is somewhat strong.
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