1. © Cambridge University Press 2016
Question tags
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2. Negative question tags
It’s a nice day, it? You’ve met Mike, you? It was a nice meal, it? You’ll call later, you?
isn’t
haven’t
wasn’t
won’t
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3. Positive question tags
It isn’t a nice day, it? You haven’t met Mike, you? It wasn’t a nice meal, it? You won’t call later, you? is
have
was
will
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4. Question tags with modal and auxiliary verbs
She can play tennis, can’t she? She can’t play tennis, can she?
She doesn’t like cats, does she?
She likes cats, doesn’t she?
They’ve gone to Italy, haven’t they?
They haven’t gone to Italy, have they?
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5. © Cambridge University Press 2016
GET IT RIGHT!
Are you a new student, aren’t you? He doesn’t like cats, doesn’t he? They’ve planned a party, don’t they?
You’re a new student, aren’t you?
He doesn’t like cats, does he?
They’ve planned a party, haven’t they?
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6. © Cambridge University Press 2016
Language in action
Tom: I’m throwing a party on Saturday. I gave you an invitation, didn’t I? Luke: Yes, you did. I can bring my sister, can’t I? Tom: Yes, but you won’t bring your mom, will you?! Luke: Haha! You’ve chosen the music, haven’t you? Tom: Yes! That’s the most important thing. I couldn’t forget about that. Luke: OK. See you on Saturday. It’s at 8 p.m., isn’t it? Identify the tenses and the types of question tags.
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7. Can you remember the rules?
Question tags are short questions which we use to check facts or keep the conversation going.
With positive statements, use a negative question tag.
You’re Spanish, aren’t you?
With negative statements, use a positive question tag.
She doesn’t like dogs, does she?
When be is used in the statement, repeat it in the question tag.
I’m early, aren’t I? You aren’t playing, are you?
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8. © Cambridge University Press 2016
With modal verbs (can, might) and most other verb forms, repeat the modal or the auxiliary verb in the question tag.
You can’t play the piano, can you?
With present or simple past verbs use do/don’t, does/doesn’t (simple present) or did/didn’t (simple past).
You love this song, don’t you?
I gave it back to you, didn’t I?
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9. © Cambridge University Press 2016
Speaking
Work in pairs.
Student A: Choose a tag. Student B: Make a question.
do you?
does it?
do they?
did he?
doesn’t he?
haven’t they?
won’t you?
will we?
didn’t he?
have you?
aren’t you?
haven’t we?
will she?
has it?
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10. © Cambridge University Press 2016
Speaking
How well do you know your classmates? Write names.
Think of two of your own ideas.
1 ________ can play soccer. 2 ________ went camping in the summer. 3 ________ has a dog. 4 ________ has visited London. 5 ________ went to the movies last week.
6 ________ has been to Canada.
7 ________ can’t sing.
8 ________ is afraid of spiders.
9 ________ ________________
10 ________ _______________
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11. © Cambridge University Press 2016
Acknowledgements
The publishers are grateful to the following illustrators:
Slide 2: Graham Kennedy
Slide 3: David Semple
Slide 4: Arped Olbey (Beehive Illustration)
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