A.

Study these examples:

Have you? and wasn’t it? are tags (= mini-questions that we often put on the end of a
sentence in spoken English). In these tags, we use an auxiliary verb (have/was/will, etc.).

We use do/does/did for the present and simple past (see Unit 49):
 “Lauren plays the piano, doesn’t she?” “Well, yes, but not very well.”
 “You didn’t lock the door, did you?” “No, I forgot.”

B. Normally we use a negative question tag . . . and a positive question tag after a
after a positive sentence: negative sentence:
Positive Sentence + Negative Tag Negative Sentence + Positive Tag
Maria will be here soon, won’t she? Kate won’t be late, will she?
There was a lot of traffic, wasn’t there? They don’t like us, do they?
Jim should take his medicine, shouldn’t he? You haven’t paid the gas bill, have you?
Notice the meaning of yes and no in answer to a negative sentence:
Yes. (= Yes, I am going out)
 You’re not going out today, are you? No. (= No, I’m not going out)
C. The meaning of a tag depends on how you say it. If your voice goes down, you are not
really asking a question; you are inviting the listener to agree with you:
 “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” “Yes, beautiful.”
 “Eric doesn’t look too good today, does he?” “No, he looks very tired.”
 She’s very funny. She has a wonderful sense of humor, doesn’t she?”

But if the voice goes up, it is a real question:

 “You haven’t seen Lisa today, have you?” “No, I haven’t.”
(= Have you seen Lisa today by any chance?)

You can use a negative sentence + positive tag to ask for things or information or to ask
somebody to do something. The voice goes up at the end of the tag in sentences like
these:
 “You wouldn’t have a pen, would you?” “Yes, here you are.”
 “You couldn’t lend me some money, could you?” “It depends how much.”
 “You don’t know where Lauren is, do you?” “Sorry, I have no idea.”
D. After Let’s . . . The tag is shall we:
 Let’s go for a walk, shall we? (the voice goes up)

After Do/Listen/Give . . . , etc. (imperative), the tag is usually will you:

 Listen to me, will you? (the voice goes up)

After I’m . . . The negative tag is aren’t I? (= am I not?):

 “I’m right, aren’t I?” “Yes, you are.”
50.2 Read the situation and write a sentence with a tag question. In each situation you are
asking your friend to agree with you. (continuation…)
4. You’re friend’s hair is much shorter than when you last met. What do you say to him/her?
(have / your hair / cut) You __________________________________________________________.
5. You and a friend are listening to a woman singing. You like her voice very much. What
do you say to your friend? (a good voice) She ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________.
6. You are trying on a jacket in a store. You look in the mirror, and you don’t like what you
see. What do you say to your friend? (not / look / very good) It ________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________.
7. You and a friend are walking over a small wooden bridge. The bridge is very old and
some parts are broken. What do you say? (not / very safe) This bridge ________________
____________________________________________________________________________________.

50.3 In these situations you are asking for information and asking people to do things.
1. You need a pen. Maybe Kelly has one. Ask her.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Kelly, you don’t have a pen, do you?
2. The cashier is putting your groceries in a plastic bag, but maybe he could give you a
paper bag. Ask him.
Excuse me, you _____________________________________________________________________.
3. You’re looking for Ann. Maybe Kate knows where she is. Ask her.
Kate, you ___________________________________________________________________________.
4. You need a bicycle pump. Maybe Nicole has one. Ask her.
Nicole, _____________________________________________________________________________.
5. You’re looking for your keys. Maybe Robert has seen them. Ask him.
Robert, _____________________________________________________________________________.
6. Ann has a car and you need a ride to the station. Maybe she’ll take you. Ask her.
Ann, _______________________________________________________________________________.