Question tags, negative questions, softeners

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

Question tags with I'm, Let's, orders, nobody, everyone and there (I'm next, aren't I?), negative questions and how to answer them (Didn't you…? Yes, I did), and softeners for requests and disagreement. From a couple who miss their exit to the guesses you make about your teacher.

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Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

isn't it?aren't I?shall we?

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: the wrong exitReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Which tag?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Tags, negative questions and softenersGrammar rule
  6. 6Choose the right tagGrammar exercise
  7. 7Answer the questionsGrammar exercise
  8. 8Build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  9. 9Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  10. 10What do you know about me?Speaking practice
  11. 11What would you say?Grammar exercise
  12. 12Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: the surprise partyGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: a conversationDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. When you travel with friends or family, who usually plans the route?
  2. Do you find it easy to ask a stranger for directions?
  3. Have you ever gotten lost on the way somewhere important? What happened?

Grammar rule

Tags, negative questions and softeners

Question tags: the special cases

SentenceTagExample
I am…aren't I?I'm in your seat, aren't I?
Let's…shall we?Let's sit outside, shall we?
an imperative (an order or a request), also with Don't…will you? (an invitation: won't you?)Give me a hand, will you? Don't forget, will you? Have a seat, won't you?
nobody / no one / everyone / someonetheySomeone called for you, didn't they? No one was hurt, were they?
nothing / everythingitEverything's ready, isn't it?
there is / there are (also there will be, there has been…)there + the same helping verbThere aren't any tickets left, are there?
never, hardly, rarely, nobody, nothing (negative words)a positive tagHe rarely complains, does he?

Answer about the facts, not the tag: "You've met my brother, haven't you?" "Yes, I have." To disagree politely, start with Actually: "Actually, I don't think I have." A falling tag (↘) expects agreement; a rising tag (↗) is closer to a real question.

Negative questions

Isn't that your bus? · Aren't you ready yet? · Wouldn't it be easier to call them?

Use them when you think something is true and want the other person to agree, to show surprise or annoyance, or to make a soft suggestion. Answer about the facts: "Didn't you turn off the oven?" "Yes, I did." (= it's off) / "No, I didn't." (= it's still on)

Softeners

DirectSofter
Move your car.Would you mind moving your car?
Can I borrow your charger?Would you mind if I borrowed your charger? · I was wondering if I could borrow your charger.
You're wrong.I might be wrong, but… · I'm not sure that's right.
No, I can't.I'm afraid I can't. · I'd love to, but…
It's too small.It's a bit small.
Would you mind…? asks "Is it a problem for you?", so the friendly answer is no: "No, not at all." / "No, go ahead." After might, use right? instead of a tag (We might need a taxi, right?). In casual speech, right? works after almost any statement, and don't you think? after an opinion.

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