It's Important, Isn't It?
Question Tags
Most questions in English use this structure:
(Question Word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Form + (objects) + ?
Example:
Do your workers know how to handle a combined statement?
Are they going to be able to submit the blueprints by the deadline?
Question Tags
Question tags are used to confirm information that the speaker knows, or believes to know. This conversational form is used to check that the speaker has understood something.
Form questions tags by making a statement followed by a comma and the OPPOSITE (positive -negative, negative - positive) form of the matching auxiliary verb in the same tense.
Example:
He would always preform the interviews as per your request, wouldn't he?
Jim's office doesn't handle escrow payments, do they?
We haven't sold stock in a long time, have we?
This list shows question tags for a number of tenses.
Present Simple:
This escrow check doesn't go into escrow today, does it?
Present Continuous:
Jennifer is taking the day off to protest a bill, isn't she?
Past Simple:
The chairman didn't read the minutes of a meeting, did he?
Present Perfect:
That stock has been going up, hasn't it?
Future with 'Will':
The mutual fund will have a solid growth rate, won't it?
Request with 'Would':
He would always preform the interviews as per your request, wouldn't he?
Special Notes:
Use question tags in order to do the following:
- To confirm information
- To continue a conversation
Sometimes, question tags are used sarcastically or in a joking manner. This type of usage depends on the context and the speaker's tone of voice.
Exception: When using the verb 'to be' as the auxiliary verb in a question tag with the subject I (rhetorical) use the form "am I?".
Example:
I'm not going to be late, am I?
I'm not involved in that sale, am I?