Sorry! Search is currently unavailable while the database is being updated, it will be back in 5 mins!

Using tag questions in English

Tag questions are short phrases added to the end of sentences to check information, seek confirmation, or ask for agreement. Tag questions can make requests sound softer, encourage conversation, or show doubt, making them useful in everyday English.

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

A good place to start is examples with the verb "to be." Note that a positive statement is followed by a negative tag and vice versa. Additionally, the verb in the tag must match the verb in the main statement in tense and form.

 

But no! You are so excited, aren't you?

Caption 19, BBC Comedy Greats: Michael McIntyre on Google Earth

 Play Caption

 

Hello. You were searching for a hidden microphone, weren't you?

Caption 21, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four: BBC TV Movie

 Play Caption

 

Just as we use "do" to create questions, this verb is used when adding a tag question for sentences with verbs other than "to be" or auxiliary verbs. 

 

The Ambulocetus does look like a link between a land animal and a whale, doesn't it?

Caption 11, Green TV: Evolution of the Whale

 Play Caption

 

But you don't care about those, do you?

Caption 4, The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon meets James Earl Jones

 Play Caption

 

You made us what we are, didn't you?

Caption 20, Movie Trailers: Interview with the Vampire

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

A sentence in the present perfect requires "have" in the tag rather than "to be" or "do." Similarly, the future tense requires "will," or "won't" if the tag is negative. 

 

You have won a few races, haven't you?

Caption 15, James Dean: Interview & Famous Drive Safely Spot

 Play Caption

 

Remember me, boy, will you?

Caption 25, Spiller Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)

 Play Caption

 

Make yourself at home! Won't you? OK.

Captions 82-83, ALF: Some enchanted evening

 Play Caption

 

Modal verbs such as "would," "should," "can," and "could" are also used in tag questions in certain instances. 

 

Just come over here and sit down, would you? -OK.

Caption 7, Campus Movie Fest: Small Talk

 Play Caption

 

Further Learning
In addition to spotting more examples on Yabla English, try to make your own sentences with the following modal verbs and suitable tag questions with "can"/"can't," "could"/"couldn't," "should"/"shouldn't" and "would"/"wouldn't."

 

A few more examples:
We can wait a few more minutes, can't we?
He wouldn't forget about it, would he? 

The Five Senses and Related Phrases

The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

banner PLACEHOLDER

We see with our eyes, but "to see" can also be used to mean "to understand" or "to realize." "To watch" something takes longer, like when we watch television. The verb "to look" can be transitive or intransitive. You can look at something to examine it or look (as in “outwardly appear”) a certain way. 

 

Finally, I can see you crystal clear.

Caption 3, Adele: Rolling in the Deep

 Play Caption

 

Now I can see that we've fallen apart

Caption 27, Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way

 Play Caption

 

Make sure you guys watch the whole video if you want to see all that footage.

Caption 22, Aspyn Ovard: What To Pack for Vacation! Tips + Essentials!

 Play Caption

 

Just look at all those acorns!

Caption 22, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon

 Play Caption

 

This may look like a massive body of water.

Caption 9, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions

 Play Caption

 

The difference between "hearing" and "listening" is a little like the difference between "seeing" and "watching." If you listen to a sound, what someone is saying, or music, you pay close attention rather than just noticing it with your ears. 

 

Did you hear that?

Caption 54, Abiventures: Sandwich

 Play Caption

 

And then I always listen to music because it helps me work out better.

Caption 41, Harvard: A Day in the Life of a Harvard Student

 Play Caption

 

So, now listen to how I pronounce the following words.

Caption 8, British vs American English: Pronunciation Lesson

 Play Caption

 

Our sense of touch is about physical contact and how things feel. There are many phrases that use the idea of touch to describe different types of physical and metaphorical contact. "keep in touch" (remain in contact), "lose their touch," (lose their ability to do something), or "have the right touch" (have certain skills)."

 

If we touch his tail, he'll get frightened.

Caption 10, Nature & Wildlife: Wild Sharks

 Play Caption

 

He must be losing his touch.

Caption 42, ALF: Some enchanted evening

 Play Caption

 

And, of course, a pineapple just to add a touch of the tropics. 

Captions 15-16, Tara's Recipes: Delicious Fruit Salad with Greek Yogurt

 Play Caption

 

Like "to look," the verbs "to smell" and "to taste" can be either transitive or intransitive. They can be used to talk about the action of smelling or tasting, but also to describe how something smells or tastes. 

 

I think I can smell chocolate.

Caption 23, Peppa Pig: Easter Week

 Play Caption

 

And they smell so good.

Caption 35, Blippi: Cool Science Experiment for Kids

 Play Caption

 

I'm gonna open up a restaurant, so people can taste my food!

Caption 16, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Pam's Trinidadian Caribbean Kitchen

 Play Caption

 

I wanna see what the lambsquarters taste like, first of all.

Caption 38, Food Talk with Sigrid: Foraging

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

You may know that "taste" is also a noun meaning someone's idea of what's good or bad and their ability to choose well. It can also refer to a short experience of something. 

 

This show is all about the three Ts of New York: The talent, the trends, and the taste.

Caption 2, On Deck with Lucy: TV Host Jeremy Hassell

 Play Caption

 

Another thing to be aware of: While "tasty" is a positive adjective, "smelly" means that something smells bad!

 

Further Learning
There are several videos on the senses on Yabla English where you can learn even more about this topic, including a detailed overview from Sigrid and a fun video about a dog's sense of smell.

Vocabulary

Signup to get Free English Lessons sent by email