In a question tag there is usually a statement and a tag, the tag comes after the statement.
For example: I saw Daniel, didn't I?
Statement tag
Rules for Question Tag
– Rule one: If the statement is positive, the tag will be negative.
– Rule two: If the statement is negative, the tag will be positive. A negative statement or tag is identified by the present of the negators "not" and "never".
Examples:
1. I have not seen you before, Have I? (Negative statement-positive tag)
2. It is raining, isn't it? (Position statement-negative tag)
Note that the negative (not) in the tag is usually written with the verb in a contracted form e.g. (isn't)
– Rule Three: The statement is normally separated from the tag with a comma.
– Rule Four: The subject in the statement must be repeated in the tag e.g. He came yesterday, didn't he?
Note that if the subject is a noun, it must be changed to an appropriate pronoun in the tag. For instance, we cannot say: Julian is coming, isn't Julian? 'Julian' must be changed to its appropriate pronoun which is 'she'.
– Rule five: The verb in the statement must be repeated in the tag
Note: Only auxiliary verbs are applicable in question tag. This implies that if the verb in the statement is a lexical (main) verb, it must be changed to an auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb applicable in replacing a lexical verb in the question tag is the auxiliary verb 'to-do'. This means that the lexical verb in the statement is changed to the verb 'to-do' in the tag. If the lexical verb is past tense, in the tag, it becomes did/didn't e.g. We stood up when the principal came in, didn't we?
If the lexical verb is present tense, in the tag, it becomes does/doesn't for singular subjects and do/don't for plural subjects. For instance, it is wrong to say: *"He came here, camen't he?* The verb 'came' is in past tense therefore it will be changed. Let us consider the examples below:
1. He came here, didn't he? (Past tense)
2. He comes here everyday, doesn't he? (Simple present singular verb)
3. They come here everyday, don't they? (Simple present plural verb)
– Rule Six: If the verb in the statement is the auxiliary should or must, it becomes need in the tag e.g. I should come tomorrow, needn't I? We must go, needn't we?
– Rule Seven: If the verb in the statement is a command verb, it is changed to will in the tag e.g. Get out, will you? Shut up, will you?
– Rule Eight: If the verb in the statement is "let" and the subject is "us" (let's), the verb in the the tag will be shall and the subject will be we e.g. Let us go now, shall we? Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?
The rules we have discussed above are all based on Simple Sentences. The ruled to be discussed next are based on larger and non-simple sentence.
– Rule Nine: If the statement is a compound sentence, made up of two main clauses, the tag will be derived from the latter main clause. Examples:
1. Marina passed her exam and her father was very happy, wasn't he?
In the example above, there are two clauses joined by the coordinator 'and'. The tag is derived from the second clause 'her father was very happy'
2. You stole but your mother didn't beat you, did she?
– Rule Ten: If the statement is a complete sentence, the tag is derived from the main clause of the sentence. Remember that a complex sentence is made up of only one main/independent clause and the other(s), subordinate/dependent clause. Examples:
1. We stood up when the principal came in, didn't we?
The main clause here is 'We stood up'
2. When the principal came in, we stood up, didn't we?
3. We stood up when the Mrs Remix, the principal came in, even though Mr Akpan was angry, didn't we?
The tag is still derived from the main clause 'We stood up'. All other clauses are subordinate clauses. Note that the subordinate clauses in the examples above are adverbial clauses. It may also be a noun or an adverbial clause. Examples:
1. Marian doesn't know that you were joking, does she?
2. I said, "Kyle saw Daniel", didn't I?
3. It seems that the children are not paying attention, doesn't it?
In the next article we are going to be writing about Direct and Indirect Speech.
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