..., isn't it? ..., can you?   ..., doesn't he?
Question tags and Information tags
(Suggested answers  to the exercise)

1. You and a friend are at a barbecue. You think the sausages smell good. What can you say to your friend?
   - Those sausages smell good, don't they?
   
2. You and a friend are watching your cousin swimming. She's a very good swimmer. What can you say to your friend.
   - She's a very good swimmer, isn't she?
   - She can swim very well, can't she?
   
3. You are impressed with your friend's speaking ability in Spanish. What can you say to him/her? 
   - Your Spanish is pretty good, isn't it?
   - You can speak Spanish really well, can't you?
   
4. You notice your friend's stomach has been getting bigger recently. What can you say to him/her?
   - I think you've been putting on a bit of weight recently, haven't you?
   
5. You and a friend are having dinner together. He seems to be enjoying the pizza. What can you say to your friend?
   - You're enjoying that pizza, aren't you?
   
6. You and a friend have just been to see a movie. You didn't enjoy it very much. What can you say to your friend?
   - That wasn't such a good movie, was it?
   

Some further comments


1. Notice that in this example:
   
     I think you've been putting on a bit of weight recently, haven't you?

the tag matches you've been, not I think.


2. Remember that in all the examples above, the tags are INFORMATION TAGS. Therefore, when you say them, be sure to make no pause before the tag and to say them with a falling intonation.
   
   
3. As I said earlier, question tags and information tags are very frequent in native speaker conversation. If you learn to use them well, it will help you to communicate more effectively. Good luck.
   

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Bob's One-Point Weekly Lesson Archive.

© Robert E. Jones, 2005