Question Tags: Uses & Examples In English

Basic Grammar

Question Tags 

A question tag is part of a sentence used to get a response or confirmation from the listener to the statement.

In the following examples, ‘isn't he’ and ‘does she’ are question tags. These question tags are used to recieve confirmation from the listener to the statement. 

Examples:

He is teaching, isn't he? 

She doesn't go to school, does she? 

Question Tag Structures 

1. Positive Statement + Negative Question Tag

 

Examples:

He teaches English, doesn't he? 

He is a farmer, isn't he? 

It's nice, isn't it? 

2. Negative Statement + Positive Question Tag 

Examples:

He doesn't teach English, does he? 

He is not a farmer, is he? 

It's not nice, is it?

Rules Regarding Subjects of Question Tag

Rule 1. The subjects of question tag are always pronouns. They can't be nouns. 

Examples:

Wrong: Ram is a teacher, isn't Ram? 

Right: Ram is a teacher, isn't he?

Rule 2. Subjects of question tags do not start with capital letters. 

Examples:

Wrong: He is a doctor, isn't He? 

Right: He is a doctor, isn't he? 

Rule 3. Auxiliary verbs used in question tags are used in contracted forms.

Examples:

Wrong: She is a teacher, is she not? 

Right: She is a teacher, isn't she?

Subjects Used in Question Tags 

Sub of Sent → Sub of Tag 

This               It 

That               It 

These            They

Those            They 

It                      It 

There              There

Somebody     They 

Everything      It 

Something      It

Nothing           It 

Examples:

This is your pen, isn't it? 

That's your office, isn't it?

These are your pens, aren't they? 

Those are your pens, aren't they? 

There is a man, isn't there? 

It is nice, isn't it? 

Somebody will come, won't they? 

Everything is possible, isn't it? 

Something will happen, won't it? 

Nothing will happen, will it?

Auxiliary Verbs Change in Question Tags

The auxiliary verbs used in the question tags are changed according to the tense of the statements. 

Present Simple

Examples:

He eats rice, doesn't he? 

He doesn't go to school, does he? 

Present Continuous

Examples:

He is eating rice, isn't he? 

He is not going to school, is he? 

Present Perfect

Examples:

He has gone, hasn't he? 

He has not gone, has he? 

Past Simple

Examples:

He went, didn't he? 

He didn't go, did he? 

Past Continuous

Examples:

He was going, wasn't he? 

He was not going, was he? 

Past Perfect

Examples:

He had gone, hadn't he? 

He hadn't gone, had he? 

Future Simple

Examples:

He will go, won't he? 

He will not go, will he?

Question Tags of Let and Imperative Sentences 

Examples:

Let us go, shall we? 

Let him go, will you? 

Open the door, will you/ won't you? 

Shut up, can't you?

Don't go, will you?

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate question tags.  

1. She is your friend,.........?

2. I'm a teacher,..........?

3. He is not a doctor,........? 

4. He's going,........? 

5. He eats rice,........? 

6. He's gone,............? 

7. She invited me,.........?

8. He wasn't teaching,.......? 

9. He will go to the market,..........? 

10. He could not eat the entire cake,.......? 

Answer keys:- 

1. isn't she ?

2. aren't I ?

3. is he ?

4. isn't he?

5. doesn't he?

6. hasn't he? 

7. didn't she?

8. was he?

9. won't he? 

10. could he? 

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks.

1. Let him come inside,.......? 

2. Don't break it,.........? 

3. Open the door,...........? 

4. Shut up your mouth,.......? 

5. Let's go to the market,.........? 

Answer keys:- 

1. Let him come inside, will you? 

2. Don't break it, will you? 

3. Open the door, will you/ won't you? 

4. Shut up your mouth, can't you? 

5. Let's go to the market, shall we?

 

List of Gerunds and Infinitives in English: Meaning & Examples With Exercises

Definitions of Infinitives and Gerunds in English

1. An infinitive is the base form of verbs with or without the preposition, “To”. We use infinitives to express purpose. There are mainly two types of Infinitives. They are to-infinitives with the preposition, ‘to’ and bare infinitives without it. 

Examples:

(a) He came here to see his mother. (To see = To-infinitive for purpose)

(b) I can speak English, Hindi and Arabic. (Speak= Bare infinitive, not having ‘To’)

2. Gerund is the base form of verbs that's used with ‘ing’. The basic use of gerunds is to show cause or reason. Gerunds, verb+ing are used as nouns. 

Examples:

(a) He was punished for joining the class late.(Joining=gerund for cause or reason) 

(b) Swimming is the best exercise. (Swimming=gerund used as a noun)

List of Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives with Examples 

I want to go. 

He needs to talk about it.

She decided to buy a car.

We planned to visit the Taj. 

They began to work. 

You should learn to speak English. 

He refused to carry the bags. 

She prefers to take coffee. 

They pretend to love each other. 

I love to read novels.

She likes to eat bananas.

I forgot to bring my notebook.

He asked me to go with him. 

I beg to say.

He continued to tell the story.

I don't mean to say that. 

He failed to produce his documents. 

She managed to buy a new book.

He claimed to be the owner of the company.

Criminals deserve to go to jail. 

I will try to find it out.

He agreed to work with me.

Don't hesitate to contact us. 

He seemed to be worried.

She promised to marry him.

List of Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds

He finished writing the assignment. 

I feel like eating

Would you mind opening the door? 

He confessed stealing my watch.

I missed attending today's class.

I suggest going to the market now. 

He delayed giving his contact number. 

I will risk coming to meet you. 

He quit smoking

We're considering visiting Red Fort.

He practised speaking English.

We should avoid making silly mistakes.

He enjoyed playing with us. 

They postponed meeting us. 

She admitted telling a lie. 

I really appreciate teaching English. 

He denied giving his pen.

Our teachers resumed teaching. 

I can't resist sleeping right now.

I resented being treated like a child.

I recommend reading a grammar book daily.

We advise reading a newspaper.

They discussed writing an article about women empowerment.

Many fear speaking in public.

I support running online classes. 

She discontinued working with us. 

My parents permitted going to the cinema.

Exercise 1 

Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs.

1. He begs........(to say/saying)

2. She will forget........(to take it/ taking it) 

3. I refused......(going with him/to go with you) 

4. I've decided.........(to study/ studying) 

5. She failed........(producing her documents before the authority/to produce her documents) 

6. He doesn't mean.......(saying that/to say that) 

7. He deserves........(going to jail/to go to jail) 

8. He likes ........(eating ice-cream/to eat ice-cream) 

9. I managed.........( to purchase a new phone/ purchasing a new phone) 

10. He promised........(to go with me/going with me)

Answer keys:- 

1. To say 

2. To take it 

3. Refused to go with you

4. To study

5. To produce her documents before the authority

6. To say that

7. To go to jail

8. To eat ice-cream

9. To purchase a new phone

10. To go with me

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs.

1. I advise........(to read one page everyday/ reading one page everyday) 

2. Many people fear........(speaking infront of public/to speak infront of public) 

3. He denied......(to go with me/going with me) 

4. She admitted...... (telling a lie/to tell a lie) 

5. You should avoid..........(to make silly mistakes/making silly mistakes) 

6. She enjoyed.........(to play with us/playing with us) 

7. He appreciates........(learning English/to learn English)

8. We suggest.......(to sleep well /sleeping well)

9. I finished........(writing the assignment/to write the assignment) 

10. Would you mind........? (to open the door/ opening the door)

Answer keys:- 

1. Reading one page everyday

2. Speaking infront of public

3. Going with me 

4. Telling a lie 

5. Making silly mistakes

6. Playing with us 

7. Learning English

8. Sleeping well 

9. Writing the assignment

10. Opening the door

 

Adjectives: Definition with Examples & Degrees of Adjectives (Positive, Comparative, And Superlative)

What is an Adjective?

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. In other words, an adjective is a word that adds something to the meaning of a noun or pronoun. Adjectives modify the meaning of nouns and pronouns. 

An adjective is used before a noun, as in “A good boy” or after a linking verb, as in “He is happy.”. The first one is called an attributive adjective, and the second one is called a predicative adjective. 

Examples:

I met a good girl yesterday. (Attributive adjective) 

She is short and I'm tall. (Predicative adjective) 

Degrees of Adjectives in English

Degrees of adjectives and adverbs in English show the level or intensity of those adjectives and adverbs. 

In English, we have three types of degrees of adjectives and adverbs. They are positive, comparative and superlative degrees. 

1. Positive Degree shows no comparison. In other words, there are adjectives and adverbs which are used simply and don't indicate any kind of comparison between two persons or things. In positive degrees, simple adjectives and adverbs are used. 

In the following examples, the simple adjective, ‘good’ and adverb, ‘fast’ show no comparison, hence they are said to be in positive degrees. 

Examples:

He is good. 

He goes fast. 

2. Comparative Degree shows comparison between two nouns or two pronouns, between two persons or things in some quality. 

In the first example, the comparison is between two persons, ‘He’ and ‘I’ in the quality of being good. 

In the second sentence, the comparison is between our cat and your cat in the quality of being lovely. 

Examples:

He is better than I (am)

Our cat is more lovely than yours. 

Two rules Regarding the Formation of  Comparative Degree 

1. If an adjective or adverb is not polysyllabic, (not having more than one vowel sound in it)  then ‘er’ is added to the adjective or adverb to make it comparative degree. And of course, in comparison, you need to usually use the word, Than. 

Examples:

(Adjectives) 

Big→Bigger 

Small→ Smaller

Tall→ Taller 

Thin → Thinner

Fat → Fatter 

Sad → Sadder 

(Adverbs)

Fast → Faster 

Hard → Harder 

Long → Longer 

2. If an adjective or adverb is polysyllabic (having more than one vowel sound in it), then the comparing word, ‘more’ is used followed by ‘than’ to form comparative degrees. 

Examples:

(Adjectives)

Common → More common

Intelligent → More intelligent

Beautiful → More beautiful

Handsome → More handsome

Generous → More generous

(Adverbs) 

Adversely → More adversely

Beautifully → More beautifully

Effectively → More effectively

3. Superlative Degree shows the highest or least level of adjectives or adverbs. In other words, superlative degrees or forms of adjectives or adverbs are used to show that the noun or pronoun for which they are used have the greatest or the least level of that quality. 

Examples:

He is the best student in our class. 

She does everything most effectively. 

Three Rules For Formation of Superlative Degrees

1. In case of monosyllabic words, (words that have one syllable or one vowel sound in them), ‘est’ is used to form superlative degrees.

Examples:

(Adjectives)

Big → Biggest

Tall → Tallest

Fat → Fattest

(Adverbs)

Long→ Longest

High → Highest

Fast → Fastest 

2. In case of polysyllabic words, ‘most’ is used to make superlative degrees. 

Examples:

(Adjectives)

Beautiful → most beautiful

Handsome → Most handsome

Intelligent → Most intelligent

(Adverbs)

Efficiently → Most efficiently

Effectively → Most effectively

Beautifully → Most beautifully

3. ‘The’ is used in superlative degrees, and ‘than’ is not used. 

Examples:

The best student

The most beautiful woman

The worst thing

Exercise 

Fill in the blanks with appropriate adjectives.

1. He is a...... Student (good/better) 

2. She is.... beautiful girl. (More /the most) 

3. He is.......than me/I (am). (good/better ) 

Answer keys:- 

1. Good 

2. the most

3. better