A: Margot, can I sit with you at your radar sector?
B: But you haven't begun your radar training yet, have you?
A: No.
B: Then the answer is "no". Start your radar training first, and then you can watch me.
A: Okay, thanks.
Question tags are mini-questions we add to the end of a sentence. There are negative and positive question tags:
You're from Transport, aren't you?
You didn't understand, did you?
In question tags, we repeat the auxiliary verb, but change it from positive to negative, or vice-versa:
- You've seen that aviation documentary, haven't you?
- Jane can't speak ATC, can she?
- We didn't go to the Boeing assembly plant last year, did we?
- Peter and Sue'll get here soon, won't they?
- You must like Beech Twins, don't you?
For "I am...", there is a special usage of the question tag: "...aren't I".
- I am working clearance delivery tomorrow, aren't I?
- I am sitting here, aren't I?
- I'm on duty tonight, aren't I?
- Never: I'm on duty tonight, amn't I?
But for "I'm not....", the question tag is "...am I":
- I'm not a bad pilot, am I?
- I'm not allowed to take the engine cowling off, am I?
- I'm not on duty tonight, am I?
If the main verb of the sentence is be, there is no auxiliary verb. Simply change be from positive to negative or vice-versa:
He's from Singapore Centre, isn't he?
I'm wrong, aren't I?
The engine's stopped, isn't it?
If a positive sentence is in the Present Simple or Past Simple tenses, of course there are no auxiliary verbs in the part of the sentence before the question tag. In these sentences, we need to use do or does (present), or did (past) in the question tags:
Michelle loves flying, doesn't she?
You came to the weather briefing early this morning, didn't you?
He wanted to try aerobatic flying, didn't he?
I look good in this cockpit, don't I?
Note the meaning of yes and no when replying to a negative sentence:
She isn't here already, is she?
- Yes, she is. (She is already here.)
- No, she isn't. (She isn't here.)
You haven't been to Airbus 320 flight simulator, have you?
- Yes, I have. (I have been to 320 simulator.)
- No, I haven't. (I haven't been to 320 simulator.)
Michael can't vector very well, can he?
- Yes, he can. (He can vector well.)
- No, he can't. (He can't vector very well.)
Usage
The meaning of a question tag depends on the intonation used when saying it.
Rising Intonation
Rising intonation in the question tag tells the listener that the speaker is not sure and wants to check the answer with the listener.
- You haven't leveled yet, have you?
- He's from Boeing, isn't he?
- She likes flying, doesn't she?
Falling Intonation
Falling intonation is used because the speaker wants the listener to agree and to continue the conversation. It is not used for checking information. This form is a very popular way of making conversation.
- The weather is terrible today, isn't it?
- The co-pilot needs sleep, doesn't he?
- You have something to say, don't you?
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.