Comprehensive lesson on Question Tags

Dear Teachers,

         Mr. Thankachan K.M. Kulappallil had sent us Synopsis of all the prose chapters of Std. X English Text four months ago.

        Now he has sent us a 'Comprehensive lesson on Question Tags'. There is no doubt that it will be useful for the teachers and students. The material is published below and can be downloaded as word and .pdf files from the links given below. 

           I take this opportunity to thank Thankachan Sir and humbly request him to send more.

To get it

First click on the link "download". A Google docs window will be opened. 

When you click on file you will get a list. Click "Download" in that list. The computer will ask you where to save it. Done !

Download as .pdf file

Download as word file 

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FRAMING QUESTION TAGS

A question tag is used to confirm a statement; it is written at end of the statement.

1. An auxiliary joins with a pronoun to form a tag question for a positive tag.

[aux + pronoun + ?]

For a negative tag the contracted form of 'not' [n't] is used after the auxiliary.

2. A tag is negative when the statement is positive.

eg. He is a doctor, isn't he?

3. The tag is positive when the statement is negative.

eg. He is not a doctor, is he?

['No' is not the only negative word. not, never, nobody, hardly, scarcely, little, few, seldom etc

also make the sentence negative]

It is no good, is it?

There is little sugar in it, is there?

4. If there is no pronoun, a suitable pronoun depending on the gender of the subject is used-

'He' for male, 'She' for female, 'It' for lifeless things and 'They' for plural subjects.

Eg. Mohan is a doctor, isn't he?

The boys are playing, aren't they?

5. If there is no auxiliary one of 'do, does, did' is used.

'do’ for the first form [write], 'does' for ‘s’ form [writes] and 'did' for past form [wrote]

eg. He played well, didn't he?

He plays well, doesn't he?

They play well, don't they?

EXCEPTIONS

1. The question tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'

eg. I am late, aren't I?

2. After imperatives 'won't you?’ is often used to invite people to do things and

will/would/can/can't/could you? to tell or ask people to do things

eg. Give me a hand, will you?

Do sit down, won't you?

Open a window, would you?

Shut up, can't you?

After a negative imperative, we use will you?

Don't forget, will you?

3. After let's ........., we use shall we?

eg. Let's have a party, shall we?

4. There is something wrong, isn't there?

There weren't any problems,were there?

5. Nobody,somebody, and everybody take they as subject

eg. Nobody phoned,did they?

Somebody wanted a drink,didn't they?

6. Nothing takes 'it' as subject

eg. Nothing can happen, can it ?

Now add suitable tag questions to the following statements.

1. I am helpful,.........

2. She has gone,........

3. Meera studies well,.......

4. Nobody recognised me,........

5. It is not correct,.............

6. Few people go there,...........
7. The boys never come late,...........

8. Everybody has arrived,..............

9. Gowri has no enemies,...........

10. Let us sing together,..............

11.Come with me,................

12. Don't disturb me, .............