00:00First of all, what are tag questions?
00:03A tag question is a statement followed by a question.
00:08Tag questions are often used to confirm information or seek agreement.
00:14To form a tag question, you start with a declarative statement and then add a tag that turns the
00:20statement into a question.
00:22The tag is usually an auxiliary verb and a pronoun.
00:26For example, he is intelligent.
00:29This is a statement, however, if we add, isn't he, at the end, now we have a tag question.
00:37He is intelligent, isn't he?
00:40In this case, we add, isn't he, because we want agreement.
00:45I think he's intelligent.
00:47Do you think he's intelligent?
00:49I want you to agree with me.
00:52We also use tag questions to confirm information.
00:55For example, you're a doctor.
00:59This is a statement.
01:00If I say, you're a doctor, I'm quite certain that you are a doctor.
01:05But what if I'm not quite sure?
01:07You're a doctor, aren't you?
01:09In this case, I want to confirm information.
01:14I'm pretty sure you're a doctor.
01:15I just want you to confirm that you're a doctor.
01:20So how do we form tag questions?
01:22Well, the formula for making a tag question is we have a declarative statement, plus the
01:28auxiliary verb, plus a pronoun.
01:32So the auxiliary verb and pronoun in the tag question should match the subject of the declarative
01:38statement in terms of tense and number.
01:42So what that means, for example, Donald lives in Paris, doesn't he?
01:48Here we have Donald is the subject.
01:51And so we have to say, doesn't he at the end, not doesn't she, because Donald is a he.
01:59And we also don't say, Donald lives in Paris, don't he, because we use doesn't with he.
02:09Joe and Dan speak French, don't they?
02:12In this example, we use the pronoun they, because we have Joe and Dan.
02:19There is more than one person, so we use they, and don't goes with they, not doesn't.
02:29So why are tag questions often formed using the negative form of the auxiliary verb?
02:35Tag questions are often formed using the negative form of the auxiliary verb to make
02:41a statement into a question.
02:42And this is because the purpose of a tag question is to confirm or seek agreement with the statement
02:48being made.
02:49And by using the negative form of the auxiliary verb, it creates a sense of uncertainty or
02:55doubt.
02:57So, if I say, we are going to the cinema on Saturday, that is a declarative sentence.
03:05This statement is factual.
03:07That is what is happening on Saturday.
03:09We are going to the cinema.
03:11However, if we make this into a tag question, we are going to the cinema on Saturday, aren't
03:17we?
03:33So, how do you punctuate tag questions?
03:44Well, a tag question is usually separated from the statement by a comma and begins with
03:51a lowercase letter.
03:52letter.
03:53You can drive, can't you?
03:55You see here that we separate the statement from the tag question.
04:01You can drive, comma, can't you?
04:04And we have a lowercase letter after the comma.
04:09Sarah is a lawyer, comma, isn't she?
04:13They play golf on the weekends, comma, don't they?
04:18Let's look at some more tag question examples.
04:30Okay.
04:45Now it's time to do a quiz.
04:47You have to add commas to the following sentences.
04:52We have 10 different sentences and you need to add commas before the tag questions.
04:58Number one, you're feeling better today, aren't you?
05:02Number two, they're planning to go on a trip next week, aren't they?
05:07Number three, you've been to Paris before, haven't you?
05:11Number four, the wedding was beautiful, wasn't it?
05:15Number five, he's going to run the marathon next month, isn't he?
05:20Number six, you like to read in your free time, don't you?
05:25Number seven, they're going to buy a new car, aren't they?
05:29Number eight, the food was delicious, wasn't it?
05:33Number nine, you've never skydived before, have you?
05:36And finally, number 10, she's going to study abroad next semester, isn't she?
05:46Okay, so let's correct these.
05:48Now, this is quite simple.
05:49You're just adding it after the declarative sentence.
05:53So, you're feeling better today, comma, aren't you?
05:57And of course, for all of these, after the comma, there is a space before the next word.
06:03Number two, we have a comma after week, aren't they?
06:08Okay, you've been to Paris before, comma, haven't you?
06:12Number four, the wedding was beautiful, comma, wasn't it?
06:18Number five, he's going to run the marathon next month, comma, isn't he?
06:24Number six, you like to read in your free time, comma, don't you?
06:29Number seven, they're going to buy a new car, comma, aren't they?
06:34Number eight, the food was delicious, comma, wasn't it?
06:39Number nine, you've never skydived before, comma, have you?
06:44And finally, number 10, she's going to study abroad next semester, comma, isn't she?
06:51Okay, so let me know in the comment section how many you got correct out of 10.
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