Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
standard against which something is measured; factor; discipline
surface
applicant
gratuity
criterion
TOEIC vocab test: Free word games: Online Nouns Quiz Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   English for winners   Speaking
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons   Jobs
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Question tags (I am late, aren't I?)



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Sentence correct? - His brother made him to do it again. | To Be Captured Among Four Walls
Listening exercises
Message
 Author
Question tags (I am late, aren't I?) #1 (permalink) Sun Sep 24, 2006 17:44 pm   Question tags (I am late, aren't I?)		  
Hello! Just some questions about question tags.
Thanks in advance

1.- I am late, aren?t I?

I know that?s right.

But, I am not late, are I?

2.- Shut the door, will you/won?t you?

I am afraid both of them are possible, but I
can?t understand what the difference is

3.- Do not run, will you/won?t you?

I am afraid both of them are right as well, but
I don?t grasp the difference either.

4.- Sometimes I find it difficult to choose between
a question tag and a comment tag.

I can not see the difference clearly.

For instance,

a.- You saw him, didn?t you?
b.- You say him, did you?

What?s the difference?

Jes?s
Jesus1
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 192
QUESTION TAGS #2 (permalink) Sun Sep 24, 2006 18:17 pm   QUESTION TAGS		  
Jesus1 wrote:
Hello! Just some questions about question tags.

Thanks in advance

1.- I am late, aren?t I?

I know that?s right.

But, I am not late, are I? No, the tag here should be: am I

2.- Shut the door, will you/won?t you? I'd only use will you. This isn't a simple tag that asks for confirmation because it adds the idea of willingness to and softens the command.

I am afraid both of them are possible, but I
can?t understand what the difference is
You'll shut the door, won't you?

3.- Do not run, will you/won?t you? Personally, I wouldn't say either one.
I'd say:
Please don't run. - OR -
You won't run, will you? - OR -
Don't run. OK? Very Happy

I am afraid both of them are right as well, but
I don?t grasp the difference either.

4.- Sometimes I find it difficult to choose between
a question tag and a comment tag.

I can not see the difference clearly.

For instance,

a.- You saw him, didn?t you? (I want to know yes or no)
b.- You say him, did you? (That's interesting/surprising.)

When the sentence is positive and the tag is negative (or vice versa) and the tag is the same verb, you are probably simply asking for confirmation: Is that true? Yes or no?

When you have a positive sentence along with a positive tag as in (b.), it's probably something else, and in your (b) sentence it sounds to me as though the person finds the fact that you saw him interesting or possibly surprising. So, the tag is used to indicate this.

What?s the difference?

Sentence tags are used in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Wikipedia has an interesting article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_question

Jes?s
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsLearn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English courseAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn some cool expressions in the following cool story
Question tags #3 (permalink) Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:15 am   Question tags		  
Just in addition to Amy's excellent explanation!
Quote:
.- I am late, aren?t I?


You may also say:

I am late, am I not? Wink
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1239
Location: Rf
Am I not? #4 (permalink) Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:49 am   Am I not?		  
Pamela wrote:
You may also say:

I am late, am I not? Wink


I agree with Pamela. Yet keep in mind that this sounds very formal and isn't much used in conversation.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
Question tags (I am late, aren't I?) #5 (permalink) Sun Apr 26, 2009 19:00 pm   Question tags (I am late, aren't I?)		  
I find it quite hard introducing this exceptional case to my students since they near to always ask for rules and guidelines.
Any ideas?

Smile
BammBamm
New Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Display posts from previous:   
Sentence correct? - His brother made him to do it again. | To Be Captured Among Four Walls
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Question tags (I am late, aren't I?) All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums

Start FREE email English course now!
Join more than 100,000 learners!
Usage of word "find" • "how to get to ..." or "how to go to ..." • "He was born to Nepal" vs "He was born in Nepal" • "He is good at English" vs "He is good in English" • That'll vs This'll • "They shall witness" vs "They shall be wittnessed" • Sentence correct? - They sit on the 4 x 4 engine cowling. • Usage of curry: 40% of British families have a curry for sundy lunch, instead... • Usage of exotic: British supermarkets are now full of exotic cooking ingredients • Paragraph: My meritorious service had always been appreciated by my superiors... • Usage of side... vehicles coming on your right side • Sentence: What do you want your children to be? • Past, Present and Future forms of "Can" • What is the difference between "capital" and "capitol"? • Which one is correct? The paranoia of/about secret societies and one world order. • Questions with 'ought to' either negative or positive • Usage of "to" after a verb • Meaning of "I used to be so well-rounded?" • Question tags (I am late, aren't I?)

Discover English-test.net
How to use Conditional I? • Meaning of "alight" • meaning of "more often than not" • meaning of "bring somebody on" • "However fast you..." vs "No matter how..." • TOEIC verbal word list: English Vocabulary Words: Verb Adverb Noun Adjective Tests • TOEIC prep test: Word games free: Online Verb Adverb Noun Adjective Game • Define adjourn, mail, deny, stage, obviously, cancellation • Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Quick and Simple: Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Language Program • Free EFL Quiz Online: Save Our Animals (3) • Grammar quizes: Confusing Words test (9) • Public Speaking talking books, CDs, tapes, used cassettes, audio download

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2009 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail