How to use question tags in English

Hello, everybody.

I’m Greg, and in today’s video we’re going to be

looking at a quite special construction in English grammar,

a construction that can really cause confusion among some students.

You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

You’ve tried studying them before, haven’t you?

They nearly made you tear your hair out, didn’t they?

Yes, of course, today we’re looking at question tags.

Or, as they’re known in American English, tag questions.

So yes, today’s topic is question tags.

But, however, before we start the video, you have subscribed to the channel,

haven’t you?

Just in case you haven’t, please don’t forget to click subscribe.

Because that way, you’ll never miss out

on any of our great videos.

Okay, so now that you’ve done that, let’s see what question tags are

all about.

So, a question tag is a mini-question that

follows a statement, that we use in English

to check or confirm something.

Like when we’re not sure if we’ve got something right,

or if we don’t trust someone.

You’ve got the passports, haven’t you?

Question tags can come in two forms.

A negative tag is used to follow a positive statement,

whereas a positive tag is used the other way round,

to follow a negative statement.

So you packed the passports, didn’t you?

You really don’t trust me, do you?

And question tags can be pronounced in two different ways.

When we’re genuinely asking a question, and we don’t know the

answer to something, then the question tag

is pronounced with a rising intonation.

You booked the tickets, didn’t you?

Whereas, when we’re saying something that doesn’t really require an answer,

like a statement or a comment on something,

then the negative tag will have a falling intonation.

You forgot to book them, didn’t you?

Don’t worry, I have the passports. Fantastic, well done.

It’s a great feeling now you’re going on holiday.

Nothing can stop us now, can it?

So, there you go, question tags.

A really useful bit of English grammar for you.

As ever, before I go, just a reminder to subscribe

to the channel, if you haven’t already.

Just checking that you have subscribed,

because you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?

Okay, that’s a wrap.

All that’s left to say is to say thank you for stopping by,

it’s been great to have you here today.

And I’ll see you next time for more language fun.