It's Important, Isn't It?
Question Tags
Most questions in English use this structure:
(Question Word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Form + (objects) + ?
Example:
How often do you alter your accounting policy?
Are they going to work on development-related projects in India?
Question Tags
Question tags are used to confirm information that the speaker knows, or believes to know. This conversational form is used to check that the speaker has understood something.
Form questions tags by making a statement followed by a comma and the OPPOSITE (positive -negative, negative - positive) form of the matching auxiliary verb in the same tense.
Example:
They will focus on the same geographic or program areas, won't they?"
Jack didn't develop a fundraising plan, did he?"
He hasn't discovered their areas of mutual interest, has he?"
This list shows question tags for a number of tenses.
Present Simple:
He doesn't work for this foundation, does he?"
Present Continuous:
The agency endowment funds at the Foundation are going to peace and conflict resolution projects, aren't they?"
Past Simple:
Jack didn't develop a fundraising plan, did he?"
Present Perfect:
They don't have the same definition for genocide, do they?"
Future with 'Will':
They will photocopy the balance sheet, won't they?"
Request with 'Would':
We would change all the global structures, wouldn't we?"
Special Notes:
Use question tags in order to do the following:
- To confirm information
- To continue a conversation
Sometimes, question tags are used sarcastically or in a joking manner. This type of usage depends on the context and the speaker's tone of voice.
Exception: When using the verb 'to be' as the auxiliary verb in a question tag with the subject I (rhetorical) use the form "am I?".
Example:
I'm not going to be late, am I?
I'm not involved in that sale, am I?