TOPIC 1: Tag Questions
Use tag questions when you want to be sure that you are correct or when you want to seek agreement. Tag questions are composed of a statement followed by a helping verb and a pronoun in inverted order like a question. A negative tag question follows affirmative statements. The negative ending is usually a contraction.
You like to take ecotours to Costa Rica, don't you?
A positive tag ending follows negative statements.
You're not taking vacation this month, are you?
The helping verb on the tag ending must agree with the tense of the statement it is attached to.
You travel to Nova Scotia every year, don't you?
You didn't take the train to Cincinnati, did you?
They're coming tomorrow, aren't they?
You've been to Greece before, haven't you?
This is paradise, isn't it?
If the statement contains can, could, would, should, or must, repeat it in the tag ending.
You can't speak Arabic, can you?
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/ shouldn't take a vacation this month, should I?
If the statement contains have to, has to, need(s) to, or want(s) to, use do or does in the tag ending.
We have to leave first thing tomorrow morning, don't we?
She doesn't want to take the tour, does she?
Knowing what pronoun to use in the tag ending isn't always easy. Here are a few hints to help you make the decision.
If the subject is this or that, use it in the tag ending.
This is your passport, isn't it?
That isn't an American passport, is it?
If the subject is these or those, use they in the tag ending.
Those are your bags, aren't they?
These aren't very good seats, are they?
Use it for indefinite pronouns that refer to things, such as everything, something, or anything. Use they for indefinite pronouns that refer to people, such as everybody, everyone, someone, or anyone.
Everything is okay here, isn't it?
Everyone on th is flight has checked luggage, haven't they?
If the subject of the statement is a negative word such as nothing or no one, or if never is used in the sentence, follow it with a positive tag ending.
No one lives here, do they?
Nothing is going right on this trip, is it?
Follow / am in the statement portion with aren't I in the tag ending. The formal ending is am I not, but this is rarely used and may sound stilted.
I'm in the aisle seat, aren't I?
Remember that the negative contraction for will is won't.
She'll be there, won't she?
PRACTICE EXERCISE 1: Finish each sentence with the correct tag ending.
1. You have to pick up your kids at the airport, __________ ? 2. There were too many babies on the flight, __________ ? 3. You never eat before going skiing, _________ ? 4. We can't go to Spain for vacation, _________ ? 5. The bus will be late, _________ ?
6. This isn't your boarding pass, __________ ?
7. Your boss won't be back from Hawaii tomorrow, __________ ? 8. Mary hasn't ever been to Italy, _________ ?
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9. This seat isn't yours, _____________ ? 10. No one liked the restaurant, ____________ ?
TOPIC 2: Negative Questions
Negative questions are used when the speaker has a strong expectation or assumption of a positive answer. They can express a range of emotions from uncertainty, surprise, or shock to anger or suspicion, depending on the tone of voice used.
Don't you have to work today? (I'm surprised that you're not at work.) Don't you have anything to do? (I'm annoyed or angry that you're here.) Doesn't it ever rain here? (I'm surprised because it's so dry.)
Don't they know any better? (I'm shocked that they would do something so stupid.) When beginning sentences with negatives, use contractions.
Isn't it cold? Don't you want to bring a sweater?
The non-contracted "is it not cold" or "do you not want" are rarely used and sound very formal.
The responses to negative questions can be confusing. Take the example: Aren't you supposed to be at work? The response, Yes, I am means you are supposed to be at work.
But if it is a holiday or you took the day off, the response is No, I'm not, meaning: No, I'm not supposed to be at work.
PRACTICE EXERCISE 2: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate negative questions.
1. Why didn't you eat your lunch? __________ you hungry?
2. Why is it so dry here? _________ it ever rain in this city?
3. You can't be tired! _________ you sleep on the flight?
4. They're taking a cruise to Alaska? __________ that too expensive?
5. He's traveling by train? _________ that take too long?
6. Jordan is going back to Brazil? _________ he go there last year?
7. The plane is landing already? __________ it running late earlier?
8. You're checking your e-mail? _________ you supposed to be on vacation?
TOPIC 3: Beginning Sentences with Negative Adverbs
In order to make a more emphatic statement, you can begin a sentence with a negative adverb such as never, rarely, not once, hardly ever, seldom, or scarcely.
Sentences that begin in this way invert the order of subject and verb.
Rarely had I seen him so angry as when the airline lost his luggage.
Never would I have agreed to such a thing if I had known the truth!
Notice that these statements are the emphatic equivalents of "I had rarely seen him...|
and "I would never have agreed ..."In both cases, there is an auxiliary verb—had and would. To make an emphatic statement out of a sentence that doesn't contain an auxiliary verb, such as "I seldom hear such good news" or "Jim never slept so deeply as on vacation,"you have to add an auxiliary
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Seldom do I hear such good news!
Never did Jim sleep so deeply as on vacation!
Notice that this word order can be used not only for emphasis, but also for a dramatic or even poetic quality.
Never had she felt so lost and alone.
Rarely had the night seemed so long and lonely.
PRACTICE EXERCISE 3: Rewrite the following sentences so that they begin with negative adverbs.
1. We had never seen such beautiful mountains.
2. Paul had scarcely left the house when the blizzard hit.
3. Jim had rarely spoken with such sincerity.
4. We seldom take such relaxing trips.
5. The Harding family hardly ever went on vacation.
6. Tony rarely goes to bed before midnight.
7. I had never seen such clear water as during our trip to Curacao.
8. The sky had never looked so ominous.