by R. S. Karunaratne

Question tags

We can turn a statement into a question by adding a question tag at the end of it.

He is tall, isn’t he?
It’s rainy day, isn’t it?
Selva works hard, doesn’t he?
You and I enjoyed the film, didn’t we?
This is your car, isn’t it?
We use a question tag to ascertain whether something is true.
This is your sister, isn’t she?
Those are their books, aren’t they?
You’ve passed the examination, haven’t you?
Your brother is a Cooperative Inspector, isn’t he?
She does the household work herself, doesn’t she?

We use a question tag to find out whether somebody agrees with us.

They look awesome, don’t they?
The exhibition was a success, wasn’t it?
You’re interested in politics, aren’t you?
She was a champion sprinter, wasn’t she?
Princess looks adorable, doesn’t she?

There is no contraction (short form) for ‘am not’, so we use ‘aren’t’ as the question tag.

I am beautiful, aren’t I?
I am recovering fast, aren’t I?
I am a little earlier than usual, aren’t I?
I am confident of success, aren’t I?
I’m sure of getting a free ticket to see the film, aren’t I?

We use negative tags for positive statements.

We were quite happy, weren’t we?
The principal will meet the teachers, won’t he?
The train has left for Ragama, hasn’t it?
She teaches English, doesn’t she?
They were running home, weren’t they?

We use positive tags for negative statements.

The boys are not in the classroom, are they?
Your sister isn’t present today, is she?
We have not been performing for some time, have we?
The dog doesn’t look ferocious, does it?
We aren’t in the same class, are we?

We use contractions in question forms.

You look slim in that dress, don’t you? (NOT ‘do not you’)
George lives in New York, doesn’t he? (NOT ‘ does not he’)
Ranil was here yesterday, wasn’t he? (NOT ‘was not he’)
It’s a bright day, isn’t it? (NOT ‘is not it’)
Sekara works hard, doesn’t he? (NOT ‘does not he’)

We use pronouns in question tags. It must agree with the subject.

Kumar is a busy executive, isn’t he?
The kittens are very playful, aren’t they?
Susila dances beautifully, doesn’t she?
Manori writes neatly, doesn’t she?
Sam and Peter will play table tennis tomorrow, won’t they?

[Activity]

Use suitable question tags for the following statements. Check your answers with the key.

1. It’s a cloudy day, ......................?
2. Sethunge works hard, ......................?
3. You’ve done a good job, .....................?
4. You and I should sign the agreement, ......................?
5. I like your handwriting, ........................?
6. Your sister is in my class, ....................?
7. The business enterprise was a disaster, ......................?
8. I am not interested in politics, ...................?
9. That man is an architect, ...................?
10. Those buildings were built in 2000, ...................?

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Key:

1. isn’t it 2. doesn’t he 3. haven’t you 4. shouldn’t we 5. don’t I 6. isn’t she 7. wasn’t it 8. aren’t I 9. isn’t he 10. weren’t they

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It pays to increase your vocabulary. Here is quiz to test your word power. Simply underline the correct definition of the words in bold type.

Check your answers with the key.

1. A melange of strange sounds greeted us as we entered the dark tunnel.

(a) symphony
(b) load
(c) mixture

2.S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was noted for his repartee.

(a) politics
(b) wit
(c) honesty

3. The police were surprised by the suspect’s sangfroid when he was arrested.

(a) composure
(b) complicity
(c) confidence

4. After a brief tete-a-tete the two men departed for different destinations.

(a) fight
(b) intimate conversation
(c) holiday

5. Bachchan played his role in the film so well that fans applauded him for his tour de force.

(a) feat of skill
(b) courage
(c) looks

6. Ron used to write vignettes to newspapers when he was a journalist.

(a) poetry
(b) criticisms
(c) brief literary compositions

7. The acrid smoke arising from the old house drew our attention.

(a) irritating to smell
(b) pleasant
(c) dark

8. The excessive use of certain drugs can addle your brain.

(a) change
(b) calm
(c) confuse

9. When all the excitement died down, we realised that it had been much ado over nothing.

(a) preparation
(b) fuss
>c) sound

10. The mice had a field day, leaping through the aperturein the old kitchen door.

(a) key-hole
(b) paint
(c) opening

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Key:

1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (c) 9. (b) 10. (c)

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Starters:

Reflexive pronouns

We use a reflexive pronoun as an object referring back to the subject.

The reflexive pronoun of 'I' is 'myself.'
I cut myself with a blade.
When I go before the mirror, I can look at myself.
I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with myself.
Do you like to know something about myself?
I had lunch by myself.

The reflexive pronoun of 'we' is 'ourselves.'
Don't worry, we can look after ourselves.
After getting wet in the rain, we looked at ourselves.
At the birthday party we enjoyed ourselves.
Early in the morning we washed ourselves.
We blamed ourselves for the accident.

The reflexive pronoun of 'you' is yourself' (singular) and 'yourselves' (plural).

You can look at yourself in the mirror.
Did you enjoy yourself at the party?
You always think of yourself.
Do you live by yourself?
If you want any more food, help yourselves.
Did you enjoy yourselves at the party?
Look at yourselves in the large mirror.

The reflexive pronoun of 'he' is 'himself.'
He looked at himself in the mirror.
Rex dressed himself for the wedding.
Dayan cut himself with a knife.
He went on a holiday by himself.
Merryl enjoyed himself at the party.

The reflexive pronoun of 'she' is 'herself.'
Sonia looked at herself in the mirror.
She went on holiday to Nuwara Eliya by herself.
She enjoyed herself at the wedding.
Leena fell off the ladder but did not hurt herself.
Manel refused to talk about herself.

The reflexive pronoun of 'they' is 'themselves.'
They looked at themselves in the large mirror at the Fort Railway Station.
They paid for themselves at the hotel.
Did they enjoy themselves?
Some people think of themselves all the time.
When they are alone, they talk to themselves.

[Activity]

Fill in the blanks with reflexive pronouns. Check your answers with the key.

1. Nuwan fell off his bicycle but he didn't hurt ......................
2. Nethmi enjoyed ..................... at the birthday party.
3. Did you all have a nice time? Yes, we enjoyed ......................
4. I looked at ................ and Sriyani looked at ......................
5. Do you sometimes talk to ............................?
6. The knife is very sharp. Don't cut ....................
7. The police said the man had shot .......................
8. Have a nice time and look after ....................... (Plural)
9. Lal went to the theatre by ..........................
10. Do you live by ........................?

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Key:

1. himself 2. herself 3. ourselves 4. myself, herself 5. yourself 6. yourself 7. himself 8. yourselves 9. himself 10. yourself

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