Grammar in Practice 2

Unit 3: Question Tag1. Illustration

Agnes : Hi, Mickey! You are so early at school.Mickey: Yes, I am, aren’t I. It seems that there is

no one here except you.Agnes : Right. But I don’t think the others will be

late. They’ve never been late, have they?Mickey: No, they are usually about on time.Agnes : I am afraid that one will be absent, though.Mickey: Who?Agnes : Rita. She went to Padang last week, didn’t

she?Mickey: That’s right. Well then, we’ll have the

meeting without her, won’t we?

2. Formulation

A. Positive Statement, Negative Tag?

e.g.1. Dewi passed her exams, didn’t she?2. We can post our letters at the post

office, can’t we?3. Anita has ever visited Bali, hasn’t she?4. Arman will participate in English

Speech contest, won’t he?5. Mr. Sahala speaks English fluently,

doesn’t he?

B. Negative Statement, Positive Tag?

e.g.

1. They don’t know my address, do they?

2. Vivi won’t visit me again, will she?

3. Herlan shouldn’t go to the dentist, should he?

4. My nephew didn’t arrive here on time last night, did he?

5. She hasn’t returned my English novel yet, has she?

3. The Use

•To ask for confirmation.

–So, the expected answer is the same as the statement.

Exceptions1. When the statement is (+), but contains (-) tense

word (i.e. hardly, seldom, rarely, barely, scarcely, never, few), then QT must be in (+) form.

e.g.a. They hardly understand my explanation,

do they?b. He has never been to Medan, has he?

2. When the subjects of statements are:somebody, someone, everybody, everyone, nobody, none, the pronoun in QT must be they.

e.g.a. Everybody admired my paintings, didn’t

they?b. Nobody loves me, do they?

3. When the subjects of statements are: something, everything, nothing, the pronoun in QT must be it.

e.g.a. Everything is all right, isn’t it?b. Nothing can be done, can it?

4. When the subject of statement in the Present tense form is I, then the QT is irregular form: aren’t I.

e.g.a. I am a promising student in my

school, aren’t I?

5. The QT of Let’s … is shall we?

e.g. Let’s practice speaking English every day, shall we?

6. When the subject of statement is there, QT is still there.

e.g. There’s something wrong with my TV, isn’t there?

7. The QT of imperative is will you?

e.g.Sit down, will you?