It's Important, Isn't It?
Question Tags
Most questions in English use this structure:
(Question Word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Form + (objects) + ?
Example:
When do you study the technical aspects of service?
Are they going to mention the daily rate?
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 didn't stay at the condominium, did he?"
"They will do the laundry, won't they?"
"The hotel manager hasn't been away long, has he?"
This list shows question tags for a number of tenses.
Present Simple:
"Room service is closed, isn't it?"
Present Continuous:
"He is calculating our revenue today, isn't he?"
Past Simple:
"He didn't stay at the condominium, did he?"
Present Perfect:
"The hotel manager hasn't been away long, has he?"
Future with 'Will':
"They will do the laundry, won't they?"
Request with 'Would':
"He wouldn't lie about his nutritional analysis, would 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?