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Question Tags Short Answer


QUESTION TAGS, SHORT ANSWERS, ETC.


(1) Question Tags.

It is a common practice in conversation to make a statement and ask for confirmation; as, 'It's very hot, isn't it?' The later part ('isn't it?') is called a question tag. The pattern is (i) auxiliary+n 't +subject, if the statement is positive, ((7) auxiliary + subject, if the statement is negative.

It's raining, isn't it? You are free, aren't you?

She can swim well, can't she?
Gopi broke the glass, didn't he?

Your sister cooks well, doesn't she?

You aren't busy, are you? She can’t swim, can she?

Mohan doesn't work hard, does he?
They haven't come yet, have they?
Note that the subject of the question tag is always a pronoun, never a noun.
Note these peculiarities:
I am right, aren't I?
Let's go to the beach, shall we?
Wait a minute, can you?
Have some more rice, will you?
There is a mosque in that street, isn't there?
There are some girls in your class, aren't there?
Somebody has called, haven't they?


(2) Short Answers.

The following is the most usual form of short answers to verbal questions (i.e., questions
beginning with an auxiliary):
Yes + pronoun + auxiliary
Or: No + pronoun + auxiliary + n't (not)
Are you going to school? -- Yes, I am.\ No, I am not.
Can you drive a car? -- Yes, I can.\ No, I can't.
Is your son married? -- Yes, he is.\ No, he isn't.
Does Venu work hard? -- Yes, he does.\ No, he doesn't.
Did he say anything? -- Yes, he did.\No, he didn't.


(3) Agreements and Disagreements with Statements.

Agreements with affirmative statements are made with Yes/So/Of course + pronoun + auxiliary.
It is a good film. - Yes, it is.
Mohan has already come. - So he has.
He can speak Hindi very well. - Of course he can.
He looks dishonest. - Yes, he does.

Agreements with negative statements are made with No + pronoun + auxiliary + n't/not. The apples aren't good. - No, they aren't. She doesn't like fish. No, she doesn't. He can't help coughing. No, he can't, They haven't played well. No, they haven't.

Disagreements with affirmative statements are made with No/Oh no + pronoun + auxiliary + n't/not. But is used in disagreement with a question or an assumption. He is drunk. - No, he isn't.

You are joking. - Oh no, I'm not.
Why did you beat him? - But I didn't.
I suppose she knows Bangali, - But she doesn’t.

Disagreements with negative statements are made with (Oh) yes/ (Oh) but + pronoun + auxiliary.

You can't understand it. - Yes, I can.
He won't come again. - But he will.
You don't know him. - Oh yes, I do.
I didn't break it. - Oh but you did.

(4) Additions to Remarks.

Affirmative additions to affirmative remarks are made with So + auxiliary + subject.
Anand likes oranges. So do I.
She must go home. So must I.
He was late for the meeting. So were you.
I've finished my homework. So has my sister.

Negative additions to negative remarks are made with Nor/Neither + auxiliary + subject.

Ramesh doesn't like sweets. Nor do I.
He didn't believe it. Neither did I.
I can't do the sum. Nor can my father.
Tom wasn't there. Neither was Peter.

Negative additions to affirmative remarks are made with But + subject + auxiliary + n't/not.
He knows German. But I don't.
I understood the joke. But Mary didn't.
He knows how to cook. But his wife doesn't.
I can play chess. But my brother can't.
Affirmative additions to negative remarks are made with But + subject + auxiliary.
He doesn't know her. But I do.
I didn't see the film. But Gopi did.
He can't play cricket. But I can.
She wasn't late. But you were.

Exercise

Add question tags to the following:-

It's very hot today, ---
You like him,---.
Kishore will come, ---.
We must hurry, ---.
He will never give up, ---.
Your father is a doctor, ---.
You have tea for breakfast ---.
I didn't hurt you, ---.
You aren’t going out, ---.
They have sold the house, ---.
I needn't get up early tomorrow, ---.
He didn't paint it himself, ---.
Gopal hasn't passed the exam, ---.
They will go home soon, ---.
It isn't ready yet, ---.
Gopal hasn’t passed the exam, ---.
They will go home soon, ---.
 He didn’t paint it himself, ---.

Exercise

Answer the following questions (a) in the affirmative, (b) in the negative.
Can you swim?
Do you like sweets?
Are you angry with me?
Is it going to rain?
Am I in your way?
Does your father smoke?
Is Suresh staying with his uncle?
Will they be at the cinema?
Did you go to college yesterday?
Will they be at the cinema?
Is Suresh staying with his uncle?
          Has he met you?


Exercise

I. Agree with the following statements, using Yes/So/Of course +pronoun + auxiliary.

Children like playing.
He has left already.
My aunt came yesterday.
They are playing beautiful music.
Abdul has come to see you.
Mr, Mukherji knows ten languages.

 Agree with the following statements, using No + pronoun + auxiliary + n't/not.

He doesn't like tea.
You haven't played well.
Your brother doesn't look his age.
She didn't complain.
Ramesh didn't attend the party.
He can't speak English fluently.

Disagree with the following statements. (Use the pattern No/Oh no/But + pronoun auxiliary + n't/not).

He lied.
She has promised to obey you.
Why nave you spoiled my pen?
The boy will hurt himself.
You are in the wrong.
I suppose he is honest.

IV. Disagree with the following statements, using the pattern (Oh)yes/(Oh) But + pronoun + auxiliary).

You can't do the sum.
Radha doesn't like you.
He isn't reading.
She won't come.
I don't know where you went.
I am not in your way.


Exercise



I. Add to the following remarks either freely or using the suggestions in brackets.
(Pattern: So + auxiliary + subject).
    Venu came late. (Gopi)
My friend lives in Mumbai.(his sister)
Oranges were very dear, (bananas)
I've read the book, (my brother)
Madhu can speak Tamil, (his wife)
I must leave today, (you)

Add to the following remarks, either freely or using the suggestions in brackets. (Pattern: Nor/Neither + auxiliary + subject).

I don't like meat, (my wife)
She couldn’t help laughing. (I)
This book doesn't belong to me. (that)
Monday's debate wasn't very interesting. (Wednesday's)
She doesn't know me quite well, (her husband)
You didn't notice him. (I)

 Add contradictory statements to the following, either freely or using the suggestions in brackets. (Pattern: But + subject + auxiliary + n 't/not. )

He can type well. (I)
I won the election, (my friend)
My sister can speak Marathi, (I)
I like playing chess, (she)
He knows me well, (his brother)
Hindi is easy to learn. (English)

 Add contradictory statements to the following either freely or using the suggestions in brackets. (Pattern; But/ + subject + auxiliary).



I don't know Telugu. (my wife)
My sister doesn't like films. (I)
He won't leave tomorrow. (We)
I didn't do the homework, (others)
He didn't thank me. (she)
I didn't know the way. (my friend)


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Unknown said…
Venu came late (so+auxlary+sub)
August 25, 2020 at 12:49 AM

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