TAG QUESTIONS
Question Tag: Question Tag is basically Echo Question. It is called Echo-Question as the practice is to repeat or echo some words used in the statement or sentence. Question Tag is tagged in the shortest form at the end of the sentence to authenticate the statement or to know one's agreement or disagreement to the statement.
Classification of Question Tags:
Question Tags are mainly of three kinds. They are -
(a) Affirmative Question Tag.
(b) Negative Question Tag and
(c) Same Way Question Tag.
Such as:
(i) Negative statement + Affirmative Question Tag.
(ii) Affirmative statement + Negative Question Tag.
(iii) Negative statement + Negative Question Tag.
(iv) Affirmative statement + Affirmative Question Tag.
ইংরেজি ভাষায় Sentence-এ সংযুক্ত ছোট প্রশ্নকে Question Tag বলা হয়। কারও মতামত বা সমর্থন পাওয়ার জন্য Sentence-এর শেষে এ সকল সংক্ষিপ্ত প্রশ্ন জুড়ে দেয়া হয়। পরীক্ষার্থীদের Statement-এর সাথে Tag Question লিখতে হবে। শুধু Tag Question-টি লিখলে হবে না।
RULES FOR QUESTION TAGS
01. Question tags-এ নিম্নলিখিত negative contraction গুলো ব্যবহার করতে হবে :
is + not = isn't
are + not = aren't
am + not = aren't/ain't
was + not = wasn't
were + not = weren't
has + not = hasn't
have + + not = haven't
had + not = hadn't
shall + not = shan't
will + not = won't
can + not = can't
must + not = mustn't
might + not = mightn't
should + not = shouldn't
ought + not = oughtn't
would + not = wouldn't
could + not = couldn't
may + not = mayn't
do + not = don't
did not didn't
does + not = doesn't
02. Question tags-এর প্রথমে নিম্নলিখিত contraction গুলো থাকতে পারে :
I + am = I'm
You + are = you're
He is = He's
He will = He'll
They + are = They're
I + shall = I'll
Rahim+ is = Rahim's
I + have = I've
He has = He's
I + had = I'd
I + will = I'll
I + would = I'd
লক্ষ রাখবে : He's = He is অথবা He has এবং He'd = He had অথবা He would. Verb-এর form দেখে বুঝে নিতে হবে যে, কোনটি ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে। Is ব্যবহার করা হলে পরবর্তী Verb-এর সাথে ing যুক্ত থাকবে। কিন্তু has ব্যবহার করা হলে পরবর্তী Verb-টির past participle form হবে। আবার, had ব্যবহার করা হলে পরবর্তী Verb-টির past participle form হবে এবং would ব্যবহার করা হলে Verb-টির present form হবে।
Meena's coming = Meena is coming.
Meena's come = Meena has come.
He'd gone = He had gone.
He'd go = He would go.
A list of Pronouns used for the subjects in the Tagged Questions is given below:
03. Negative statements (না-বোধক বক্তব্য)-এর শেষে Affirmative (হ্যাঁ-বোধক) Question Tags হয়।
যেমন —
You didn't see him, did you?
Raju can't drive, can he?
He isn't a good boy, is he?
I haven't done this, have I?
04. Auxiliary verb বা সাহায্যকারী verb-যুক্ত Affirmative statement-এ (হ্যাঁ-বোধক বক্তব্য) সাহায্যকারী verb-ট দিয়েই Negative Question tag করা হয়।
যেমন—
Ruma is singing, isn't she?
They are playing, aren't they?
Zinia has done the work, hasn't she?
He will come, won't he?
05. Auxiliary verb বা সাহায্যকারী verb-বিহীন Affirmative statement-টি (হা-বোধক বক্তব্য) Present tense Subject যদি 3rd person singular number হয় তবে Question tag doesn't বসে ।
যেমন—
Raju walks slowly, doesn't he?
Maradona plays well, doesn't he?
The sun gives us light, doesn't it?
Rokeya goes to college everyday, doesn't she?
06. Auxiliary verb-বিহীন Affirmative statement-টি Present tense এবং Subject-টি যদি 3rd person singular number না হয় [অর্থাৎ subject যদি 1st person singular বা plural, 2nd person singular বা plural অথবা person plural number হয়] তবে Question tag-এ don't বসে ।
যেমন—
I love you, don't I?
They play football, don't they?
Rina and Salma always quarrel, don't they? We sing loudly, don't we?
07. Auxiliary verb-বিহীন Affirmative statement-টি Past Indefinite Tense হলে Subject-matterএর সকল Person-এর ক্ষেত্রে Question tag-এ didn't বসে।
যেমন —
I went to Bankok, didn't I?
They played cricket, didn't they?
He bought a car, didn't he?
We enjoyed the movie, didn't we?
Note: Affirmative statement-টি Present indefinite এবং Past indefinite না হলে অন্যান্য সকল Tense-এর ক্ষেত্রে কেবলমাত্র Auxiliary verb-টি দিয়ে Negative tag করতে হয়।
08. Statement-টির Subject যদি everybody, everyone, somebody, someone হয় তবে Question tag-এর Subject হিসেবে “they” ব্যবহৃত হয়।
যেমন —
Everyone thanked you, didn't they? Somebody has done it, haven't they?
Everybody loves me, don't they?
Someone went there, didn't they?
09. Imperative statement টি যদি Verb দ্বারা শুরু হয় এবং তা দ্বারা অনুরোধ না বুঝিয়ে শ্রোতার সম্মতি জানতে চাওয়া হয় তখন Question tag-এ “will you” বা “won't you” ব্যবহার করা হয় ।
যেমন—
Do the sum, will you?
Or, Do the sum, won't you?
Go at once, will you?
Or, Go at once, won't you?
10. Imperative statement-টি যদি Verb দ্বারা শুরু হয় এবং তা দ্বারা অনুরোধ বুঝালে Question tag-এ “can you", “would you” অথবা “could you” ব্যবহার করা হয়।
যেমন —
Wait here a moment, can you?
Give me an example, could you?
Please give me a pen, would you?
Find me a job, can you?
Lend me your umbrella, could you?
Give me two hundred dollars, could you?
11. Imperative statement-টি যদি don't দিয়ে শুরু হয় তবে Question tag-এ "will you" ব্যবহার করা হয়।
Don't make any noise, will you?
Don't run in the sun, will you?
12. Imperative statement-টি যদি let's দিয়ে শুরু হয় তবে Question tag-এ “shall we” ব্যবহার করা হয় ।
Let's have a picnic, shall we?
Let's go for a walk, shall we?
13. যে সকল Statement-এ neither, no (adjective), none, no one, nobody, nothing, scarcely, barely, hardly, hardly ever, seldom ইত্যাদি রয়েছে সে সকল Statement কে Negative statement হিসেবে গণ্য করা হয় এবং এর সাথে Positive tag ব্যবহার করা হয় ।
যেমন —
No salt is allowed, is it?
Nothing was said, was it?
Rina hardly ever goes to college, does she? Barking dogs seldom bite, do they?
14. Statement-টির Subject যদি anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, none, neither হয় তবে Question tag-এর Subject হিসেবে “they” ব্যবহৃত হয়।
No one would object, would they?
Neither of them complained, did they?
Anyone can participate, can't they?
Nobody will come, will they?
15. Statement-টি যদি Introductory "there" দ্বারা শুরু হয় তবে Question tag-এর Subject-ও there হবে।
There is a college in our village, isn't there? There is not enough space, is there?
There weren't many students, were there?
There are six boys, aren't there?
16. Statement-টির Subject যদি nothing হয় তবে Question tag-এর Subject হিসেবে “it” ব্যবহৃত হয়।
Nothing was said, was it?
Nothing is impossible, is it?
17. Statement-টি যদি "be" verb-যুক্ত Exclamatory sentence হয় তবে Question tag করার সময় Auxiliary verb টির Negative tag ব্যবহৃত হয়।
যেমন—
How beautiful the bird is, isn't it?
What a fool you are, aren't you?
18. Statement-টি যদি মূল verb-যুক্ত Exclamatory sentence হয় তবে Question Tag করার সময় Tense ও Subject-এর person ও number অনুযায়ী don't, doesn't বা didn't ব্যবহৃত হয়।
যেমন—
How slowly she walks, doesn't she?
How funny he talked, didn't he?
How skilfully they play, don't they?
How nicely we enjoyed it, didn't we?
19. নিম্নলিখিত অগ্রাণিবাচক বস্তুগুলো যখন প্রাণিবাচক sense-এ ব্যবহৃত হয় তখন সেগুলো পুংলিঙ্গ নির্দেশ করে এবং Question tag-এর Subject "he" হয়।
যেমন—
The sun, Summer, Winter, Death.
The sun sheds his beams on rich and poor alike, doesn't he?
20. নিম্নলিখিত অগ্রাণিবাচক বস্তুগুলো যখন প্রাণিবাচক sense-এ ব্যবহৃত হয় তখন সেগুলো স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ নির্দেশ করে এবং Question tag-এর Subject হিসেবে "she" হয়।
যেমন—
The moon, the earth, spring, autumn, nature, liberty, justice, mercy, peace, hope, charity, river, the Padma, the Meghna.
The moon has hidden her face behind a cloud, hasn't she?
Spring has spread her mantle of green over the earth, hasn't she?
Peace has her victories in the long run, hasn't she?
Or, Peace has her victories in the long run, doesn't she?
21. তবে Rule-19 এবং Rule-20 এ বর্ণিত অপ্রাণিবাচক Noun গুলো যদি অপ্রাণিবাচক sense-এ ব্যবহৃত হয় তবে Question tag-এর Subject হিসেবে “it” ব্যবহৃত হয়।
The sun is very hot, isn't it?
The moon shines at night, doesn't it?
22. কোনো Sentence-এ have, has বা had মূল Verb হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হলে British & American English-এ ভিন্ন রূপ Question tag গঠিত হয় ।
(i) British English-এ haven't, hasn't বা hadn't Question tag হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয়।
যেমন —
You have two children, haven't you?
He has a wrist watch, hasn't he?
I had some cards, hadn't I?
They have a garden, haven't they?
(ii) American English-এ Tense ও Subject-এর number ও person অনুযায়ী don't, doesn't বা didn't ব্যবহৃত হয়।
যেমন—
You have two children, don't you?
I had some mangoes, didn't I?
She has an exam tomorrow, doesn't she?
They have a garden, don't they?
23. Affirmative statement-এ Subject "I" এবং Auxiliary "am" থাকলে Question tag করার সময় am + not = ain't না হয়ে aren't হবে।
I am thirsty, aren't I?
I'm playing, aren't I?
24. Sentence-এ am, is, are, was, were যদি মূল Verb হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয় তবে Question tag উক্ত Verb সহযোগেই গঠিত হয়।
I was sick, wasn't I?
They are students, aren't they?
She is not a doctor, is she?
I am busy, aren't I?
Some Additional Rules for Question Tags:
1. 'Don't' asks "used to" in American English and it sounds more appropriate in Question Tag.
Such as: He used to go to college didn't he?
2. For Subject 'one' use the Pronoun "they".
Such as: One does not know when one will die, do they?
3. In case of Complex sentences Question Tags are to be made for the clauses that are to be asked for.
Such as: It does not matter much if he goes to the dogs, does it?
If they be educated, they will become conscious of their duties, won't they?
4. In case of a compound or, multiple subject combined form of pronoun should be used in the Question Tag.
Such as: You, he and I attended the meeting didn't we?
5. In case of non-negative sentence, the Question Tag will be an affirmative one: Such as: He is too weak to walk, is he?
6. Possessives in a complete subject should not be taken into account in the Question Tag as pronoun-subject.
Such as: His dog is missing, isn't it?
7. Proper noun representing quality should be shown by pronoun "it" in the Question Tag.
Such as: The mother in her rose to see the child, didn't it?
8. For clause-subject use "it" as pronoun-subject in the Question Tag.
Such as: That he is a thief is known to all, isn't it?
9. For phrase-subject use "it" as pronoun-subject in the Question Tag.
Such as: To walk in the morning is good for health, isn't it?
Exercise worked out
1. How funy! isn't it?
2 What a pity! sin't it?
3. Who cares, do they?
4. Rahim's honesty is known to all, isn't it?
5. Bread and butter is my favurite dish, isn't it?
6. I see you don't like me, do you?
7. It is man who pollutes water, don't they/doesn't he?
8. Man is mortal, aren't they/isn't he?
9. Non man is immortal, are they?
10. I had my meals on time, didn't I?
11. Gime me a hug, will you?
12. Wait here, would you?
13. Give me ten thousand dollars, could you?
14. I had many books, hadn't 1?
15. I'd meet you, wouldn't I?
16. I'd gone there, hadn't I?
17. What a fool! aren't you/I?
18. Stop, won't you?
19. Joy is laughing, isn't he?
20. I have bought a mobile set, haven't I?
21. Shima is a girl, isn't she?
22. I am a student, aren't f?
23. I will go to Dhaka tomorrow, won't I?
24 Kabir can't drive a car, can he?
25. You are not frugal, are you?
26. We shouldn't look down upon the poor, should we?
27. Birds can fly, can't they?
28. You do not go there, do you?
29. Habib does not like dark, does he? 30. He bought a piano, didn't he?
31. Samol earned a lot of money, didn't he? 32. He'd go there, wouldn't he?
33. Shahid'd gone there, hadn't he?
EXERCISE FOR PRACTICE
1. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Let's go out somewhere, (a) — ?
: All right. Where?
: You haven't got a newspaper, (b) —?
: Yes, I've
: Pass it over here, (c) — ?
: Oh, sure. Here it is.
: Well, we can we can go to Fantasy Kingdom at Ashulia, (d) — ?
: Fine, but I haven't got any money. You couldn't lend me some money, (e) — ?
2. Fill in the blanks with tag questions :
: Anon, you couldn't get me some post cards, (a) — ?
: Sure, how many post cards do you need?
: I need 10 post cards. Take the money, (b) — ?
: You won't be at home, (c) — ?
: Yes, I'll be at home. You won't be late, (d) — ?
: No. I won't be. You can't rely me, (e) — ?
3. Fill in the blanks with tag questions
: Our class will begin soon, (a) — ?
: Yes, I think so.
: Let's talk about our today's topic, (b) —?
: Oh, yes.
: I know a little about the topic, (c) —?
: Don't worry. I'll help you, (d) —?
: You are great. I'm proud of you, (e) — ?
4. Fill in the blanks with tag questions :
: Salam is the best student in our class, (a) —?
: Yes, indeed.
: He learns his lessons regularly, (b) — ?
: Certainly, and last year he scored the highest marks, (c) — ?
: Everybody likes him for his brilliant results, (d) -?
: We can follow his examples, (e) —?
5. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Our English teacher is a learned man, (a) — ?
: Yes, he possesses a vast knowledge over English, (b) — ?
: We can learn a lot from him, (c) — ?
: Last year he was awarded the best Teacher Award in the country, (d) — ?
: How nicely he teaches, (e) — ?
6. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Look out of the window, (a) —?
: Some children are playing, (b) —?
: They don't have any good clothes, (c) —?
: They are of very poor parents. So, they can't have good clothes, (d) — ?
: Let's help them, (e) — ?
7. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Sports are a popular form of entertainment, (a) — ?
: Yes, they are.
: Many international sporting events are organised from time to time, (b) —?
: That's right.
: Multinational manufacturing companies and business firms sponsor these events, (c)?
: Yes, they do.
: Moreover the sports venue becomes a meeting place of people from different countries, (d) —?
: And thus people can share views and opinion by coming close together, (e) —?
8. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Money isn't the sole aim of life, (a) —?
: No, not at all. But you need money to do away with, (b) — ?
: Yes, I need. But I don't want to run after money, (c) —?
: Well, that's what people say before they get into their profession.
But when they are in it they run after money, (d) — ?
: That may be so in most cases. But I won't run after money, (e) — ?
9. Fill in the blanks with tag questions:
: Doing anything well's difficult, (a) — ?
: Right, it is dirty too, (b) — ?
: Yes, I know. I made a garden in front of my house. I grow lovely flowers there, (c) —?
: Well, flowers make your house look beautiful, (d) —?
: That's right, but growing flowers is both hard and dirty, (e) — ?
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