Positive statements with positive question tags

Hello, I’m Jane at DailyStep English and welcome to my Audio Blog!

This week I’ll teach you some special uses of question tags in English, and the correct intonation to make sure you say them properly.

Here is Audio Word Study #119 from Jane Lawson at DailyStep.com

 

Special Uses of Question Tags

In my last blog, I taught you about how to use auxiliary verbs in question tags. As I explained the general rule is that

the general rule is that a negative question is followed by a positive tag, and vice versa.

Intonation is very important when using question tags so your listener knows if you are asking a real question or simply checking/confirming information.

But in a few cases, we also use POSITIVE STATEMENT + POSITIVE QUESTION TAG

We do this when we want to express emotion such as disbelief, suspicion, shock, anger, sarcasm, strong interest and so on.

Again, using the correct intonation is absolutely vital here. Listen to and speak along with these examples, and try to copy the intonation:

1. So, they are getting married, are they? That’s great news! (note: this expresses strong interest with some surprise)

2. You think you’re funny, do you? Well, I don’t! (note: this expresses sarcasm)

3. You can run faster than me, can you?  Let’s have a race then! (note: this expresses disbelief)

4. He’s going to do it today, is he? He has been saying that for weeks! (note: this expresses sarcasm and disbelief)

5. So, you are sorry now, are you?  Well, you should have said so much earlier.  (note: this expresses anger)

We also use POSITIVE STATEMENT + POSITIVE QUESTION TAG sometimes when we are making suggestions.

Listen to these examples, paying particular attention to intonation:

6. Let’s go to the park, shall we?

7. We will write to him today, shall we? (note: in both these examples, the tag ‘shall’ is used, as it is the ‘suggestion’ modal)

Finally, we use

POSITIVE STATEMENT + POSITIVE QUESTION TAG when there is a ‘hidden negative’ in the statement.

Look at these examples:

8. Nothing is better than this, is it? (note: here, ‘nothing’ is a negative subject of the verb, so we use a positive question tag because the statement is actually a negative statement. Other negative subjects are: no-one, nobody, and so on. )

9. You hardly know him, do you? (note: here, ‘hardly’ means ‘almost not’, so it gives the verb a negative meaning. Other adverbs like this are: scarcely, barely, rarely and never.)

Now, try to write and say your own sentences using positive statement with positive question tags.

Try to use examples that are true to your own life, as this will help you to remember them better.

That’s all for Audio Word Study #119 from Jane Lawson at DailyStep.com

 

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