please explain the rules of tag questions in grammar
Answers
The two basic rules about tag questions are:
If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive. If the statement is positive the tag must be negative. ...The tense of the tag is determined by the tense of the auxiliary/modal verb of the statement that precedes
Answer:
1.If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive. If the statement is positive the tag must be negative.
- You don't like me, do you?
- You won't tell him my secret, will you?
- He doesn't speak German, does he?
- You're coming to my party, aren't you?
- She's really good at chess, isn't she?
- You haven't done your homework, have you?
2.The tense of the tag is determined by the tense of the auxiliary/modal verb of the statement that precedes it. If the statement does not use an auxiliary/modal (i.e. it is in the present or past simple tense), then the auxiliary to do must be used.
- She comes from Korea, doesn't she?
- You like heavy metal music, don't you?
- He got top grade in the math test, didn't he?
- I really messed up, didn't I?
A problem with tags is getting the intonation right. Basically, it depends whether or not you are expecting an answer to your question. Look at these two examples:
He's from Italy, isn't he? (flat or falling intonation - short pause before the tag - more a statement than a question, not really expecting an answer)He's from Italy, isn't he? (sharply rising intonation - longer pause before the tag - a question expecting an answer)