Logic of question tags?

[milka]

Test No. incompl/elem-35 "Question Tags"

Hello, I have some problems with understand the logic from this taps. Please can you help me to understand it.

[Alan]

Hi Milka,

I can perhaps explain the pattern of these tags. The idea is that the speaker is asking for agreement, support or confirmation from the listener. The pattern is that if the first part is positive, the second part is negative and vice versa - both parts are in the same tense. So we have: You understand (positive present), don't you? (negative interrogative present) You didn't hear, did you?

Hope this is a little clearer.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[milka]

Hello Alan,
Thanks a lot. Yes now I understand the pattern. Just one more question this kind of question I can use every time in every context or just in special situation.
Thanks again.

[Alan]

Hi Milka,

Yes, you can use it in any context although of course it is a device used in conversation. It's equivalent to expressions like: isn't that true? isn't it? used in other European languages.

Best wishes

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A day in the life of a driving instructor