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Intonation is very important when we use question tags in English. Make sure you know how to use question tags with the correct intonation in my Audio Word Study below. There are also some free audio descriptions of all the topics in next week's DailyStep audio lessons. If you are new to DailyStep English, please register for a free trial of 5 UK/USA audio lessons and to be on my mailing list.
Here is Audio Word Study #057 on DailyStep.com.
Auxiliary Verbs (part 2) - QUESTION TAGS
Thank you for all your many requests asking me to explain how to use Question Tags and auxiliary verbs. As I explained in Auxiliary Verbs (Part 1) the word ‘auxiliary’ means ‘helper’, or ‘giving help’. Auxiliary verbs “help” to make the tense or structure of a main verb, but they do not give it any special meaning. Modal auxiliaries, such as ‘will, should and would’ actually help to give a verb meaning as well.
English verb structures often need more than one word. For example, in the sentence “Did you visit your mother?”, the main verb is visit, and the auxiliary verb is did.
Auxiliary verbs or modal auxiliaries are always used in question tags. We use question tags at the end of a statement, often because we want someone to agree with us, or because we want to check whether something is true or correct. Sometimes we just use them to keep a conversation moving, because question tags usually require a reply.
Listen to these examples:
1. You love learning English, don’t you? (note: here, I had a falling intonation when I said “don’t you?”. This falling intonation means that I believe the statement is true, so I am just confirming or asking you to agree.)
There are 2 possible answers to this: “Yes, I do” – meaning “Yes, I love learning English”, or “No, I don’t” – meaning “No, I don’t love learning English.”
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2. He didn’t resign from his job, did he? (note: here, I had rising intonation when I said “did he?” so this is a genuine question. I am asking if he resigned from his job.)
There are 2 possible answers to this: “Yes, he did.” – meaning “Yes, he resigned from his job”, or “No, he didn’t.” – meaning “No, he didn’t resign from his job.”
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3. It’s cold today, isn’t it? (note: here, the intonation is falling, and this the kind of way that we sometimes open a conversation with stranger or someone that we do not know well – perhaps a neighbour or colleague.)
There are 2 possible answers to this: “Yes, it is.” or “No, it isn’t.”
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4. There are ten students in the class, aren’t there? (note: here, I had rising intonation when I said “aren’t there?” so this is a genuine question. I want to know how many students there are in the class.)
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The grammar rules when forming question tags are as follows:
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+ Positive Statement It’s a beautiful day, |
- Negative question tag |
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- Negative Statement You didn’t see him, |
+ Positive question tag |
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So, it is not correct to say: “You love coffee, do you?” , because both the verb and the question tag are positive. You need to say: “You love coffee, don’t you?”
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Now, try to write your own sentences using question tags, and remember to say these sentences aloud so that you can practise intonation. 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 #057 on DailyStep.com.
Now listen to these free audio summaries of next week's DailyStep Audio Lessons. Remember to speak along with the audio to help your pronunciation.
Next week in the DailyStep audio lessons:
Level 5: Advanced Level
try a lesson: level 5 | niveau 5 | nivel 5 | livello 5 | レベル5 | 레벨 5
Discussing and recommending a book. Monica is looking for a good book and Paul suggests “The Cellist of Sarajevo” by Steven Galloway. This is a novel set against the background of the siege of Sarajevo, which took place during the Balkan wars that followed the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. These 5 lessons will help you to discuss plot, character, motivation and twists of any book. Excellent lessons for exam takers too!
Level 4: High Intermediate Level
try a lesson: level 4 | niveau 4 | nivel 4 | livello 4 | レベル4 | 레벨 4
Business visitors and arrangements. Mr Arias is coming across from the Colombian branch of a company to visit the British side of the business. John will be responsible for showing him around London and he is keen to make a good impression. He asks Judy for advice on where to take Mr Arias. These lessons are useful for all business people, and will also teach you about entertaining in London.
Level 3: Intermediate Level
try a lesson: level 3 | niveau 3 | nivel 3 | livello 3 | レベル3 | 레벨 3
How to be a host and a guest at a party. These 5 lessons cover different stages of a party, and you will learn all the correct language and intonation to be friendly and welcoming. Very useful lessons for business and social life, and good language practice for all levels.
Level 2: Elementary Level
try a lesson: level 2 | niveau 2 | nivel 2 | livello 2 | レベル2 | 레벨 2
English verbs in the past tense. Five short conversations to show you how to use the past simple and past continuous tenses in English. Also, the correct way to ask and answer questions in these tenses. These lessons are excellent revision for higher levels, too.
Level 1: Beginner Level
try a lesson: level 1 | niveau 1 | nivel 1 | livello 1 | レベル1 | 레벨 1
Excuse me, can I open the window please? In these 5 lessons, you will learn how to ask for things in a polite, friendly way, and also how to answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’. These lessons are great for travellers, and also if you work with tourists.
Well, that is it for today! I’ll be in touch again soon. Thank you for your many requests about subjects you would like me to cover in my blogs. I will cover as many of them as I can!
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