..., isn't it? ..., can you?   ..., doesn't he?
Question tags and Information tags

    In the last few lessons, we have seen this structure:
    • That was a great movie, wasn't it?

    Phrases like "wasn't it?" at the end of a sentence are often called tags or question tags. Tags are very common in English conversation and, if you sit with a group of native speakers, you will probably hear many examples. However, there are two very different ways of using tags. Look at these two examples:

    Example 1:
         A: Right. I'll see you on Sunday.
         B: Sunday? The meeting's on Saturday, isn't it?

    Example 2:
         A: It's a lovely day, isn't it?
         B:  Yes, beautiful.

    "..., isn't it?" in Example 1 is different from "..., isn't it?" in Example 2. Can you see why?

    Question tags & Information tags

    In Example 1, Speaker B is surprised when Speaker A says, "I'll see you on Sunday." He thinks that the meeting is on Saturday, so he has to check （確認しなければなりません）. He does this in 3 stages:

    1. He says what he believes to be true: The meeting is on Saturday.
    2. He pauses for about one second.
    3. He uses a tag, "isn't it?" with a FALL-RISE intonation.

    In Example 2, Speaker A knows that it is a beautiful day, so he isn't asking a question. The role of "isn't it?" in this case is to invite Speaker B to respond. He does this in 2 stages:

    1. He makes a comment: It's a beautiful day.
    2. He uses a tag, "isn't it?", with a FALLING INTONATION and NO PAUSE.

    In Example 1, Speaker B thinks his information is correct but, because of A's words,  he is no longer 100% sure. Therefore, he needs to check and uses a tag with fall-rise intonation. We can call this a QUESTION TAG.

    In Example 2, Speaker A does not have any doubt （疑っていない） that it is a beautiful day. He uses a tag with a falling intonation to invite Speaker B to make a response. We can call this an INFORMATION TAG.

    Note:
    The terms QUESTION TAG and INFORMATION TAG are taken from Michael Lewis's book, THE ENGLISH VERB, Language Teaching Publications, 1986.

    A Japanese Example

    I think that the difference between QUESTION TAGS and INFORMATION TAGS ia quite easy for Japanese students to understand. Let's look at these two examples:

    EXAMPLE 3:
      A: じゃ。日曜日に会いましょう。
           Jaa. Nichiyōbi ni aimashō.
       B: 日曜日ですか。会議は土曜日ですよね。
    　　　Nichiyōbi desu ka. Kaigi wa doyōbi desu yo ne.

    EXAMPLE 4:
        A:  今日はいい天気ですね。
    　　　　Kyō wa ii tenki desu ne.
        B:  そうですね。
             Sō desu ne.

    I think these structures are very similar to the English pattern. The desu yo ne in Example 3, is similar to the English QUESTION TAG. The desu ne in Example 4, is similar to the English INFORMATION TAG.

    HOW TO MAKE TAGS
    1. WITH 'BE' or AUXILIARY VERBS:
        The 'be' or auxiliary verb is repeated in the tag:

         a. This article's very interesting, isn't it?
           b. She can sing very well, can't she?
           c.  It'll probably rain this afternoon, won't it?
           d. She doesn't like him, does she?
           e.  You haven't been to America, have you?
           f.  You wouldn't like to go there again, would you?

    Please notice this pattern:
        Examples a to c: positive sentence - negative tag.
        Examples d to f: negative sentence - positive tag.

    2.  MAIN VERBS:
         When there is no 'be' or auxiliary verb, we use 'do' in the tag:
       
    • You like her, don't you?
    • They went there yesterday, didn't they?
    • He speaks really well, doesn't he?
      •

    3.   THERE IS / THERE ARE:
               'There' is repeated in the tag:    

    • There are a lot of people here today, aren't there?
    • There's a strange smell in here, isn't there?

 

    EXERCISE

    Make comments with invitation tags for the following situations:

    Example:
    You and a friend are on the beach. There are a lot of other people there. What can you say to your friend?
    Suggested answers:
    - It's pretty crowded today, isn't it?
    - There are a lot of people here today, aren't there?

    1. You and a friend are at a barbecue. You think the sausages smell good. What can you say to your friend?
    2. You and a friend are watching your cousin swimming. She's a very good swimmer. What can you say to your friend.
    3. You are impressed with your friend's speaking ability in Spanish. What can you say to him/her?
    4. You notice your friend's stomach has been getting bigger recently. What can you say to him/her?
    5. You and a friend are having dinner together. He seems to be enjoying the pizza. What can you say to your friend?
    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?

    Click here to check your answers

    Click below if you want to try some of my other one-point lessons:
    Bob's One-Point Weekly Lesson Archive.

    © Robert E. Jones, 2005