Tests in English language dividing questions. Questions with a tail in English

Dividing question, or in other words Question Tag (Dijunctive Question) is another of the main five types of questions in English grammar. In my opinion, it is the most interesting and diverse. Essentially, this type is a variation of general questions. As you probably already understood, general questions are the basis that you can’t do without. For general information about all five types of questions, see the article “Types of questions in English". And now I invite you to consider in detail the separation issue.

What are Dividing Questions and what are they for?

Dividing Questions, or Question Tags, are questions that are used to express doubt, surprise and require confirmation or refutation of what has been said. By asking disjunctive questions in English, the speaker does not seek to obtain additional information, but simply seeks agreement or disagreement with what was said.

Question Tags get their name from the fact that they are always separated into two parts by a comma. The first part always consists of a declarative sentence, and the second is a short general question (Tag). The tail question at the end of a sentence, or Tag, is translated into Russian differently: “isn’t it?”, “isn’t it true?”, “yes?”, “good?”. Example of a Dividing Question

The declarative sentence in the first part of the question is always pronounced with falling intonation. If the speaker asks a dividing question in order to obtain confirmation or refutation (i.e. the question is really a question), then the second part of the question will have a rising intonation. If the question is rhetorical in nature, then in the second part the intonation will decrease.
Dividing questions are very often used in colloquial speech.

As we already know, the separation question consists of two parts. In order to formulate a dividing question, you first need to create a simple narrative sentence in an affirmative or negative form, then put a comma and add a short general question to this sentence, or in other words “Tag”.

Remember the basic rule of Dividing Questions:

If the first part of the question is affirmative, then “Tag” is negative. And vice versa: if the first part of the question is negative, then “Tag” is positive.

V (+) …, tag (-) ?
V (-) …, tag (+) ?

For example:

She is at home, isn’t she?
(+) (-)
She isn’t at home, is she?
(-) (+)

The rule of “opposites attract”

"Tag" consists of an auxiliary or modal verb from the first part of the sentence and a personal pronoun. Everything is quite simple. The main difficulty of dividing questions lies in the correct composition of this small tail (“Tag”). To avoid confusion, remember a few simple rules:

1. If the first part of the sentence contains auxiliary or modal verbs (is, are, has got, have got, can. must, should, ought to, will, shall), as well as verbs to be or to have (meaning “to have” "), then in the “tail” these same verbs will be used, but with the opposite sign.

My sister is a very good dentist, isn’t she? — My sister is a very good dentist, isn’t she?
They are not writing now, are they? “They’re not writing now, are they?”
Jim has got much money, hasn’t he? — Jim has a lot of money, doesn't he?
Olga can’t swim fast, can she? - Olga can’t swim fast, right?
Students must come to University in time, mustn’t they? — Students should come to university on time, right?
You will cross the street at the green light, won’t you? - You will cross the road when the light is green, right?

2. If in the first part of the sentence there are no auxiliary or modal verbs, then the auxiliary verb do will be used in the “tail”. If the main verb in the first part of the sentence is in Present Simple tense, then the verb do in the “tail” will have the form do (don "t) or does (doesn"t). If the main verb is in the Past Simple, then in the “tail” it is did (didn"t).

Olga met her boy-friend yesterday, didn’t she? — Olga met her boyfriend yesterday, didn’t she?
Father didn’t buy a car last week, did he? — Dad didn't buy a car last week, did he?
I go swimming every Friday, don’t I? — I want to go swimming every Friday, don’t I?
Your brother doesn’t like vegetables, does he? -Your brother doesn't like vegetables, does he?
They worked faster two days ago, didn’t they? — They worked faster two days ago, right?

Exceptions

1. If in the first part of the sentence “I am” acts as the subject and predicate, then the “tail” will look like this: “aren"t I?”, no matter how strange it may seem.

I am right, aren’t I? - I'm right, aren't I?
I am playing well, aren’t I? - I play well, don’t I?

2. If the verb to have has an idiomatic meaning, then the auxiliary verb do will be used in the “tail”. You will understand what idiomatic meaning is from the following examples:

My parents have dinner in the cafe, don’t they? (the expression “to have dinner” has a figurative, i.e. idiomatic meaning)
I have a good idea, don’t I? (An idiom again! The expression “to have an idea” means “to come to mind”)
They had a lot of time last year, didn’t they? (And one more idiom! The expression “to have time” means “to have time”)

3. “Tails” to dividing questions with an incentive coloring are special. Remember the following cases:

a) A dividing question expressing a request, order, instruction can have any of the following “tails” - will you, won’t you, can you, could you.

Please, open the window, will you? — Please open the window, okay?
Speak Russian, can you? — Speak Russian, okay?
Come up to the blackboard, won’t you? — Come to the board, okay?

b) A dividing question calling not to do something has a “tail” - “will you?”.

Don't go there, will you? - Don't go there, okay?
Don’t shout at parents, will you? - Don't yell at your parents, okay?
Don't move, will you? - Don't move, okay?

c) Dividing questions that begin with “Let's ...” have a “shall we” tail.

Let's have breakfast, shall we? - Let's have breakfast, okay?
Let's begin it, shall we? - Let's get started, okay?
Let's go there, shall we? - Let's go there, okay?

d) Dividing questions that begin with “Let me / him ...” have the tail “will you” or “won’t you”.

Let him have a rest, will you? (won't you?) - Give him a rest, okay?
Let me decide, will you? (won't you?) - Let me decide, okay?

Traps for the inattentive

1. In English there are no two negatives in one sentence. In order not to fall into the trap, you need to remember that if in the first part of the dividing question there are words with a negative meaning (none, no one, nobody, nothing, never, scarcely, hardly, hardly ever, barely, rarely), then the “tail” will be positive.

We’ve never been there, have we? - We've never been there, have we?
They found nobody, did they? “They didn’t find anyone, did they?”

2. If in the first part of the dividing question the following words are used as the subject: these, those, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, nobody, no one, then the pronoun they will be used in the tail.

These are yours, aren’t they? - They're yours, aren't they?
Everybody took the test, didn’t they? — Everyone takes the test, right?
Somebody has come, haven’t they? - Someone came, didn't they?
No one knows this young writer, do they? - Nobody knows this young writer, do they?

Answers to Separation Questions

Disjunctive questions usually have short affirmative or negative answers.

Today is Friday, isn’t it? − Yes, it is. (Today is Friday, isn’t it? - Yes.)
She doesn’t like coffee, does she? − No, she doesn’t. (She doesn't like coffee, does she? - Yes, she doesn't.)

In answers to dividing questions in which the first part is affirmative, the following expressions are often used: “That"s right.", "That"s so.", "Quite so.", "Quite right."

They’ve been there before, haven’t they? −That"s right. (They were there before, weren't they? - That's right.)
They returned from the trip yesterday, didn’t they? − That's so. (They returned from a trip yesterday, didn’t they? - That’s true.)

In English, “yes” is always used for an affirmative answer, and “no” for a negative answer. Compare with the answers in Russian.

This collection of exercises will help you consolidate the topic. Many exercises have different levels of difficulty. The first Tag questions exercises will be optimal for students (5th grade or 6th grade). Exercises under later numbers require knowledge of special situations for constructing questions with a tail, and therefore are designed for high school students and students.

Dividing questions. Exercises for grades 5 – 6.

5th grade

Exercise 1. Add tags to make disjunctive questions.

1. Tigers are dangerous animals.

2. They have a wonderful garden.

3. He bought an expensive TV-set.

4. You have a terrible toothache.

5. She has read an interesting book

6. We gave all possible answers.

7. I asked a foolish question

8. It will be a useful exercise.

9. His speech was boring.

Haven't they?

Exercise 2. Complete the tail of the dividing question.

They won't go to the party, ___________?
This house is new, ___________?
I"m your doctor, ___________?
There is a lot of snow there, ___________?
There is no juice in the refrigerator, ___________?
She never comes in time, ___________?
They have got a new house, ___________?
They had many tomatoes last summer, ___________?
They had to buy a new desk, ___________?
They had no time to discuss the problem, ___________?

Exercise 3. You are talking to a friend. Ask him/her to agree with these statements. Use question tags.

Smoking is bad for you.

Smoking is bad or you, isn't it?

Money isn't everything.
Computers are very useful.
Some people watch too much TV
People didn't have TV 100 years ago.
Life was better 100 years ago.
We can all make mistakes.
Parents shouldn't hit their children.

6th grade.

Exercise 4. Add tags to make disjunctive questions.

You went to see the doctor, didn't you?

You were playing showballs after the lessons, ___________?
You play snowballs every winter, ___________?
They were doing their homework yesterday after supper, ___________?
Did you do your homework after school, ___________?
They entered the classroom after the teacher, ___________?
She was writing a letter when you phoned, ___________?
Bob was playing the piano when we came, ___________?

Exercise 5. Complete the tail of the dividing question.

The boy wasn't taken home, ___________?
Our homework was not checked by the teacher, ___________?
The new rules were explained to you, ___________?
The words were not written on the blackboard, ___________?
The English Channel was crossed by many swimmers, ___________?
The street was named after M. Bagdanovich, ___________?
You were born in 1982, ___________?
This coffee wasn't grown in India, ___________?
All the children were given presents, ___________?
All the mistakes were noticed by the teacher, ___________?

Exercise 6. Complete the tail of the dividing question

There was something you wanted, ___________?
There was nobody in the room, ___________?
He has never been to Asia, ___________?
You have had the computer for two years, ___________?
They had a good time there, ___________?
I am a great singer, ___________?
They went to Alaska ten years ago, ___________?
They want to go to Siberia, ___________?
This is the Mississippi River, ___________?
These are your photos, ___________?

Exercise 7. Change the statements into disjunctive questions

Example: He doesn’t like to read funny stories.

He likes to read funny stories, doesn't he?

He is not always patient.

He is not always patient, is he?

You study English.
They are discussing a new topic now.
He went for a walk in the valley an hour ago.
I was learning a poem when he came.
Maize is not grown in this part of the country.
You were not sure in his success.
They have studied at this school for 7 years.
We shan"t write a dictation tomorrow
We are given homework every day.
This rule was explained to us yesterday.

Exercise 8. You are interviewing Molly. Complete the conversation.

You: Molly. You"ve always wanted to be an actress, haven"t you?

Molly: Yes. I have.

You: You started acting when you were a small child, ___________?

(Molly: Yes. I appeared on stage for the first time when I was only four.

You: You're Canadian, ___________?

Molly: Yes, I am.

You: You were born in Toronto, ___________?

Molly: That's right.

You: But you didn't go to acting school in Canada, _____________?

Molly: No, I studied acting in New York.

You: You were there for two years, _____________?

Molly: That's right.

You: You live in London now, ______________?

Molly: Yes, I do.

You: And you"re married, _________________?

Molly: Yes, I am.

You: Your husband isn't Canadian, ____________________?

Molly: No, he isn't. He's English.

You: And you"ve got two children, ___________________?

Molly: Yes, we have. A boy and a girl.

Tag questions exercises for high school students and students.

Exercise 9. Add a tail of a separating question.

I"m older than she, ___________?
He has a sister, ___________?
Sally can't speak Chinese, ___________?
Let me call you, ___________?
Tell us about yourself, ___________?
That was an unusual stone, ___________?
She hates onion, ___________?
Dan arrived two hours ago, ___________?
There weren't many students in the hall, ___________?
The Greens have been invited too, ___________?
Don't leave without me, ___________?
Let's watch this film, ___________?
Nothing special happened that day, ___________?
Our parents are leaving for Grodno tomorrow, ___________?
He will pick you up at 4 o"clock, ___________?
This is not her car, ___________?
I"m not dressed so smartly as she does, ___________?
Everyone was shocked by his behavior, ___________?
Emilie has a shower four times a week, ___________?
She used to fight with her brother, ___________?

Exercise 10. Add a separating question tail.

There is enough food here for everyone, ___________?
Remember to turn off the cook, ___________?
Our President is going to visit Vatican, ___________?
Nobody knows about this, ___________?
I"m making you feel uncomfortable, ___________?
Bred should be here by now, ___________?
If you borrow my jeans, don't get them dirty, ___________?
Let's go because it is getting dark, ___________?
Get me some chewing gum when you go to the shop, ___________?
There is not really much time left, ___________?
Charlie usually has a rest after lunch, ___________?
Everything was done perfectly, ___________?
They won't be happy, ___________?
The Stones bought this car last year, ___________?
Don't repeat what I told you, ___________?
She hadn't been told about it, ___________?
There were a lot of cars in the street, ___________?
We have to work harder,___________?
She needs to be there, ___________?
I needn't come, ___________?

I hope you found these tag questions exercises useful.

We have already dealt with the topic “ questions with a tail in English", so today let's move on to exercises. In this article you will be offered two tasks for self-control. Be sure to brush up on the rules before you start working on the questions.

Questions with a tail in English. Exercises

Task No. 1.

Continue the questions with a tail so that you get a complete sentence.

1. She has never done it before, ...?2. You’re writing an important email now, ….?3. Their parents don’t work, ….?4. His cat was on the chair when I came in, ….?5. Bob and Jim had understood me, ….?6. Hasn’t arrived yet, ….?7. We won’t go if it rains, ….?8. Anna is talking too quickly, ….?9. They weren’t at home last weekend,….?10. You should be there with her, ….?

Task No. 2.

P Complete the following questions with a tail, paying special attention to the second part of the sentences.

1. She's never been to Paris before, right? 2. You never sit idle, right?3. He was reading the newspaper when I saw him, wasn't he?4. Tomorrow by five o'clock in the evening I will already be in New York, right?5. They have been living here for three months, right?6. It always rains here, right?7. He left before I called, right?8. This dress is quite formal, isn't it?9. He has already eliminated fatty foods from his diet, right?10. You're already getting used to the new rules at work, aren't you?

Questions with a tail in English. Answers to the exercises

If you have already completed the tasks, I suggest going to the answers and comparing them with your options.

Task No. 1.

1. She has never done it before, has she?2. You’re writing an important email now, aren’t you?3. Their parents don’t work, do they?4. His cat was on the chair when I came in, wasn’t it?5. Bob and Jim had understood me, hadn’t they?6. He hasn’t arrived yet, has he?7. We won’t go if it rains, will we?8. Anna is talking too quickly, isn’t she?9. They weren’t at home last weekend, were they?10. You should be there with her, shouldn’t you?

Task No. 2.

There is the easiest way to determine how well a particular grammatical material has been mastered - you simply need to translate (orally or in writing) the sentences in a given grammatical field into English. Then mistakes will immediately begin to appear, which you can use to navigate and repeat what you have unsteadily learned.

I will write questions that need to be read carefully and translated into English. But not all questions are divisive; among them there are also general ones. Therefore, you must first determine the type of question, and then start translating. The grammar is simple, so all your attention is on translating the questions. At the end of the list of questions I will write the correct translations and you can check yourself.

1. He studies English, doesn’t he?

2. Does your mother work at school?

3. He’s busy now, isn’t he?

4. Were you busy this morning?

5. Do you know about this?

6. You know about this, right?

7. She's going to leave tomorrow, isn't she?

8. Is your son often late for classes?

9. The children are still sleeping, right?

10. Does your brother work a lot?

11. Your daughter doesn’t go to school yet, right?

12. This film is very boring, isn't it?

13.You didn’t do this work yesterday, did you?

14. Is this book interesting?

15. I was busy this week, wasn’t I?

16. Are you often late for classes?

17. He was just here, right?

18. Do you live far from school?

19. Anna didn’t come in the morning, did she?

20. Are you ready to answer questions?

21. The alarm clock just rang, didn’t it?

22. Is your mother at home?

23. You haven't seen this film yet, have you?

24. Have you ever been to England?

25. Does your friend speak English?

26. You called me yesterday, didn’t you?

27. Has he already returned home?

28. John is answering questions now, right?

29. Does your brother walk to work at the office?

30. You like to walk, don’t you?

31. Linda didn’t trust you, did she?

32. You are going to write a test, aren't you?

33. Did you do well at school?

34. Is he a teacher?

35. Your wife loves flowers, doesn't she?

36. Did you learn any foreign languages as a child?

37. His wife is a doctor, isn’t she?

38. You apologized to your father, right?

39. After all, your father works hard to earn money?

40. Did any of your friends help you?

41. The war is over, isn't it?

42. Have you received an invitation to the party?

43. Anna made a lot of mistakes in the test, didn’t she?

44. Do you work on Saturdays and Sundays?

45. Are you hungry?

46. Mary is in love with John, isn't she?

47. Tom didn’t go to England, did he?

48. Are you proud of your son?

49. You didn’t tell anyone about this, did you?

50. Do you want to go have dinner with Tom tonight?

I will write correct translations of all the above questions.

1. He learns English, doesn’t he?

2. Does your mother work at school?

3. He is busy now, isn’t he?

4. Were you busy this morning?

5. Do you know about it?

6. You know about it, don’t you?

7. She is leaving tomorrow, isn’t she?

8. Your son is always late for his classes? isn't he?

9. The children are still sleeping, aren’t they?

10. Does your brother work much?

11.Your daughter doesn’t go to school yet, does she?

12. This film is very boring, isn’t it?

13. You didn’t do this work yesterday, did you?

14. Is this book interesting?

15. I have been busy this week. haven't I?

16. Are you often late for your lessons?

17. He hasn’t just been here, hasn’t he?

18. Do you live far from your school?

19. Ann didn’t come this morning, did she?

20. Are you ready to answer questions?

21. The alarm clock has just rung, hasn’t it?

22. Is your mother at home?

23. You haven’t seen this film yet, have you?

24. Have you ever been to England?

25. Does your friend speak English?

26. You called me up yearday, didn’t you?

27. Has he returned home yet?

28. John is answering questions, isn’t he?

29. Does your brother walk to the office?

30. You like walking, don’t you?

31. Linda didn’t trust you, did you?

32. You are going to have a test, aren’t you

33. Did you do well at school?

34. Is he a teacher?

35. Your wife likes flowers, does she?

36. You learned any foreign languages in your childhood, didn’t you?

37. Her wife is a doctor, isn’t she?

38. You apologized to your father, didn’t you?

39. Your father works hard to earn some money, doesn’t he?

40. Did any of your friends help you?

41. The war is over, isn’t it?

42. Did you get an invitation to the party?

43. Ann has made a lot of mistakes in the test, hasn’t she?

44. Do you work at the week-end?

45. Are you hungry?

47. Tom hasn’t gone to England, has he?

48. You are proud of your son, aren’t you?

49. You didn’t tell anyone about it, did you?

50. Do you want to go out to dinner with Tom tonight?