Tag Question?

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements. They are mainly used in speech when we want to:

confirm that something is true or not, or to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to.

Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the appropriate subject.

A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.

Jack is from Spain, isn’t he?

Mary can speak English, can’t she?

A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.

They aren’t funny, are they?

He shouldn’t say things like that, should he?

When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with do / does.

You play the guitar, don’t you?

Alison likes tennis, doesn’t she?

If the verb is in the past simple we use did.

They went to the cinema, didn’t they?

She studied in New Zeland, didn’t she?

When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag needs to be positive

He hardly ever speaks, does he?

They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?

Exceptions

Some verbs / expressions have different question tags. For example:

I am – I am attractive, aren’t I?

Positive imperative – Stop daydreaming, will / won’t you?

Negative imperative – Don’t stop singing, will you?

Let’s – Let’s go to the beach, shall we?

Have got (possession) – He has got a car, hasn’t he?

There is/ There are – There aren’t any spiders in the bedroom, are there?

This / that is – This is Paul’s pen, isn’t it?

Intonation

When we are sure of the answer and we are simply encouraging a response, the intonation in the question tag goes down:

This is your car, isn’t it?
(Your voice goes down when you say isn’t it.)

When we are not sure and want to check information, the intonation in the question tag goes up:

He is from France, isn’t he?
(Your voice goes up when you say isn’t he.)

মনে রাখবে Tag Question এ Operator 24 টি am,  is,  are,  was,  were,  have,  has,  had,  shall,  will,  can,  could,  may,  might,  must,  should,  would,  ought,  dare,  need,  used,  do,  did,  does

Subject 9 টি I,  we,  you,  he,  she,  they,  it,  that, there

Negative 11 টি No,  not,  never,  neither,  few,  scarcely,  hardly,  seldom,  rarely,  barely,  little

এই ১১টি negative শব্দ এর মধ্যে যে কোন একটি থাকলে শুধুমাত্র Operator হবে  ।  negative শব্দ না থাকলে Operator এর সাথে n’t যোগ হবে।
যেমন: We are writing. aren’t  we ?

Tag Question এর সহজ কিছু টেকনিক জেনে নিই।

প্রশ্নবোধক বাক্যের (Interrogative Sentence) Tag হয় না। Tag-এর Subject সব সময়ই pronoun হয়। Complex Sentence এর ক্ষেত্রে Principal Clause-এর Tag হয়।

Formal English এ Question Tag এ Negative interrogative এর Full form হতে পারে; কিন্তু আমরা তা ব্যবহার করব না। যেমন:
They promised to pay the money, did they not?

প্রদত্ত বাক্যটি লিখে নিচে কমা দিতে হয় এবং Tag করে শেষে প্রশ্নবোধক চিহ্ন দিতে হয়।

হ্যাঁ-বোধক বাক্যে auxiliary verb হিসেবে am, is, are, was, have, has, had, shall, will, can, may, could, might, would, should, must প্রভৃতি থাকলে Tag করতে ওই verb গুলোর Negative-এর সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ ব্যবহার করতে হয় এবং Subject-এর pronoun রূপ বসাতে হয়।যেমনঃ Birds can fly, can’t they?

এছাড়াও যেসব বিষয় গুলো মনে রাখতে হবে তা হলো:

1) all of them/noun, some of them, most of them, everyone of them, none of them কোনো বাক্যের Subject হলে Tag Question এর Subject হবে they.
যেমন: All of them are very sincere, aren’t they?

2) all of you, some of you, most of you, none of you কোন বাক্যের Subject হলে Tag Question এর Subject হবে you.
যেমনঃ Some of you can speak well, can’t you?

3) Few, little, scarcely, hardly, seldom, barely, never থাকলে Affirmative Tag হবে।
যেমন: I have few friends, have l?

4)  Put, cut, read, cast, spread, hurt, beat, hit, এই verb গুলোর Present, Past and Past Participle Form একই ধরনের। যেমনঃ He put the book on the table, didn’t he?

5) Imperative Sentence মূল Verb দিয়ে শুরু হলে will you/won’t you/can you/can’t you/could you/ couldn’t you? ব্যবহৃত হবে।
যেমন:  Wait here a moment, will you/ won’t you?

6) Imperative Sentence Don’t দিয়ে শুরু হলে will you? ব্যবহৃত হবে। Let’s/ Let us দিয়ে শুরু হলে shall we? ব্যবহৃত হবে। Let him/ Let her/ Let them দিয়ে শুরু হলে will you? ব্যবহৃত হবে।

যেমন: Don’t forget me, will you ?
Let’s have a rest now, shall  we?
Let me do the work, will, you ?

Make tag questions of the following statements.
(a) Let’s have a walk outside the farm, —- ?

Ans: Let’s have a walk outside the farm, shall we?

(b) I am in the habit of walking every morning, —- ?

Ans: I am in the habit of walking every morning, Aren’t I?
(c) Morning entertains us with fresh air, —- ?

Ans: Morning entertains us with fresh air, Doesn’t it?

(d) No one should miss the opportunity, —- ?
Ans. No one should miss the opportunity, should they?

(e) Have a try to form this habit of morning walk. —- ?
Ans. Have a try to form this habit of morning walk, will you?

(f) Nothing is more pleasant than the memories of childhood, —- ?
Ans. Nothing is more pleasant than the memories of childhood, is it?

(g) We hardly forget golden past, —- ?
Ans.We hardly forget golden past, do we?

2. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) The memories of my childhood still attract me, —- ?
   Ans. The memories of my childhood still attract me, don’t they?

(b) Simple things are at the centre of attraction for a child, —- ?
Ans. Simple things are at the centre of attraction for a child, aren’t they?

(c) When a man grows up. he may laugh at those things, —- ?
Ans. When a man grows up, he may laugh at those things, mayn’t he?

(d) You surely fail if you fail to plan, —- ?
Ans.You surely fail if you fail to plan, don’t you?

(e) A good plan scarcely lets you fail. —- ?
Ans. A good plan scarcely lets you fail, does it?

(f) Great people could do nothing without a plan of action, —- ?
Ans. Great people could do nothing without a plan of action, could they?

(g) Fortune also dare not fall a well-planned effort, —- ?
Ans. Fortune also dare not fail a well-planned effort, dare it?

3. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) So, plan before you proceed. —-?
   Ans. So, plan before you proceed, won’t you?

(b) The freedom fighters are the real heroes, —- ?
Ans. The freedom fighters are the real heroes, aren’t they?

(c) Nothing is greater than their sacrifice, —- ?
Ans. Nothing is greater than their sacrifice, is it?

(d) Their contribution to our country will always be remembered, —- ?
Ans. Their contribution to our country will always be remembered, won’t it?

(e) We should never neglect them, —- ?
Ans. We should never neglect them, should we?

(f) Every citizen of Bangladesh must have due respect for them, —- ?
Ans. Every citizen of Bangladesh must have due respect for them, mustn’t they?

(g) Everybody respects freedom fighters, —- ?
Ans. Everybody respects freedom fighters, don’t they?

4. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) They fought for the independence of our country, —- ?
   Ans. They fought for the independence of our country, didn’t they?

(b) Their sacrifice has given us freedom in every sphere of life, —- ?
Ans. Their sacrifice has given us freedom in every sphere of life, hasn’t it?

(c) Their names are written in golden letters, —- ?
Ans. Their names are written in golden letters, aren’t they?

(d) We should never forget them, —- ?
Ans. We should never forget them, should we?

(e) None of us can solve this problem, —- ?
Ans. None of us can solve this problem, can we?

(f) There is little water in the glass, —- ?
Ans. There is little water in the glass, is there?

(g) One cannot deny this proposal, —- ?
Ans. One cannot deny this proposal, can he/she?

5. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) You need to see a doctor, —- ?
   Ans. You need to see a doctor, don’t you?

(b) Nothing was said, —- ?
Ans. Nothing was said, was it?

(c) Everyone is nostalgic in life, —- ?
Ans. Everyone is nostalgic in life, aren’t they?

(d) We hardly forget the golden past, —- ?
Ans. We hardly forget the golden past, do we?

(e) The memories of childhood are always haunting us, —- ?
Ans. The memories of childhood are always haunting us, aren’t they?

(f) The sweetest memory of childhood is colorful, —- ?
Ans. The sweetest memory of childhood is colorful, isn’t it?

(g) Who forget these memories, —- ?
Ans. Who forget these memories, do they?

6. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) Optimism is a great quality, —- ?
   Ans. Optimism is a great quality, isn’t it?

(b) Everybody believes this truth, —- ?
Ans. Everybody believes this truth, don’t they?

(c) But all can’t be optimistic. —- ?
Ans. But all can’t be optimistic, can they?

(d) None but the optimists are accepted by all, —- ?
Ans. None but the optimists are accepted by all, are they?

(e) So. we all should be optimistic about life, —- ?
Ans. So, we all should be optimistic about life, shouldn’t we?

(f) I am an SSC examinee, —- ?
Ans. I am an SSC examinee, aren’t I?

(g) My expectation is getting A+, —- ?
Ans. My expectation is getting A+, isn’t it?

7. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) Some of my classmates became addicted to using mobile phones, —- ?
   Ans. Some of my classmates became addicted to using mobile phone, didn’t they?

(b) There are only a few family members, —- ?
Ans. There are only a few family members, aren’t there?

(c) So, one can have peace and happiness in a nuclear family, —- ?
Ans. So, one can have peace and happiness in a nuclear family, can’t they/can’t one?

(d) One need not think of others, —- ?
Ans. One need not think of others, need they/need one?

(e) Everybody hates them for this reason, —- ?
Ans. Everybody hates them for this reason, don’t they?

(f) Because trees supply us oxygen, fruits and wood, —- ?
Ans. Because trees supply us oxygen, fruits and wood, don’t they?

(h) We can hardly live without them, —- ?
Ans. We can hardly live without them, can we?

8. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) Let’s plant trees more and more, —- ?
   Ans. Let’s plant trees more and more, shall we?

(b) Our examination is over. Everybody is free now, —- ?
Ans. Our examination is over. Everybody is free now, aren’t they?

(c) He along with his friends will pay a visit to Sylhet, —- ?
Ans. He along with his friends will pay a visit to Sylhet, won’t he?

(d) But Aslam has little interest about it, —- ?
Ans. But Aslam has little interest about it, has he/does he?

(e) He as well as his parents visited Sylhet last year, —- ?
Ans. He as well as his parents visited Sylhet last year, didn’t he?

(f) As they visited many interesting places, they could enjoy a lot, —- ?
Ans. As they visited many interesting places, they could enjoy a lot, couldn’t they?

(g) You had better drink cold water, —- ?
Ans. You had better drink cold water, hadn’t you?

9. Make tag questions of the following statements.
   (a) The father rose in him at this sight, —- ?
   Ans. The father rose in him at this sight, didn’t it?

(b) Thank you very much, —- ?
Ans. Thank you very much, don’t I?

(c) He as well as his brother come here, —- ?
Ans. He as well as his brother came here, didn’t he?

(d) Let us go home, —- ?
Ans. Let us go home, shall we?

(e) Sincerity is a great virtue. A sincere man always succeeds in life, —- ?
Ans. Sincerity is a great virtue. A sincere man always succeeds in life, doesn’t he?

(f) The people who are insincere can hardly succeed, —- ?
Ans. The people who are insincere, can hardly succeed, can they?

(g) Nobody is as successful as a sincere man, —- ?
Ans. Nobody is as successful as a sincere man, are they?

10. Make tag questions of the following statements.
    (a) Every student should be sincere to shine in life, —- ?
    Ans. Every student should be sincere to shine in life, shouldn’t they?

(b) Let’s be sincere in our life, —- ?
Ans. Let’s be sincere in our life, shall we?

(c) There is little water in this pond, —- ?
Ans. There is little water in this pond, is there?

(d) Nobody respects a dishonest man, —- ?
Ans. Nobody respects a dishonest man, do they?

(e) Let’s enjoy a picnic, —- ?
Ans. Let’s enjoy a picnic, shall we?

(f) What a pity, —- ?
Ans. What a pity, isn’t it?

(g) Don’t disturb me, —- ?
Ans. Don’t disturb me, will you?

1.Make tag questions of these statements.

A.

(a) The idle can do little for the society, ————?

(b) One certainly knows it, ————?

(c) Idleness spoils the potentialities in a man, ———-?

(d) Nothing is so great a slur as to be idle, ————–?

(e) So, you as well as the other students of your class should be industrious, ————?

B.

(a) Few people know Latin, ————–?

(b) We think you will be successful, ———–?

(c) Not only I but also my parents are invited to the party, ———–?

(d) The mother rose in her at the sight, ————-?

(e) That he is honest is known to all, ————-?

C.

(a) Telling lies is a great sin, ————-?

(b) One lie begets hundred lies, ————-?

(c) None believes a liar, ————-?

(d) He has to lead a miserable life ———?

(e) So, all of us ought to refrain from telling lies, ——–?

D.

(a) Father                 : What a nice garden it is, ————-?

(b) Son                    : You are right, father, —————–?

(c) Father                 : Let’s go closer, —————–?

(d) Son                    : No, Father. We don’t have enough time, ————?

(e) Father                 : Ok. Let’s mot go today, ———–?

E.

(a) Nobody believes a cheat, —————–?

(b) Everybody hates him,——————?

(c) He has to drag a miserable life,———–?

(d) He can hardly succeed in life, ————–?

(e) Let us always speak the truth, ———-?

F.

(a) Man is fond of turning back to the past, —————?

(b) The present may be good, —————-?

(c) But the past is golden, —————-?

(d) Nothing is more pleasant to him than memories of childhood, ————?

(e) A man cannot remember everything that happened in the childhood, ——–?