1. Confirm Information:
- The main purpose is to seek confirmation or agreement from the listener.
- Example: "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
2. Express Uncertainty:
- They can soften a statement and show that the speaker is not entirely certain.
- Example: "You're going to the party, aren't you?"
3. Engage the Listener:
- They can be used to encourage a response from the listener and initiate a conversation.
- Example: "The movie was really good, wasn't it?"
Characteristics of Tag Questions:
* Structure:
- Subject + Auxiliary verb (inverted) + Pronoun
- Examples: "It's raining, isn't it?", "He's coming, isn't he?"
* Polarity:
- The tag question has the opposite polarity to the statement.
- If the statement is positive, the tag is negative, and vice versa.
- Examples: "It's hot, isn't it?" (Positive statement, negative tag) "You're not coming, are you?" (Negative statement, positive tag)
* Pronoun:
- The pronoun in the tag usually refers to the subject of the statement.
- Example: "She's happy, isn't she?"
* Auxiliary Verb:
- The auxiliary verb in the tag matches the tense and modality of the statement.
- Examples: "You're going, aren't you?" "She's been working hard, hasn't she?"
* Intonation:
- The intonation of tag questions can vary depending on the speaker's intent:
- Rising intonation: Indicates genuine uncertainty and seeks confirmation.
- Falling intonation: Indicates a statement of fact or a rhetorical question.
Examples:
* Confirming Information: "The weather is great, isn't it?"
* Expressing Uncertainty: "You're going to the concert, aren't you?"
* Engaging the Listener: "It's a long drive, isn't it?"
Note: Tag questions are commonly used in English conversation. They can be a very useful tool for communication.