How to Form Question Tags in English

How to Form Question Tags in English Basic questions in English are formed using the auxiliary verb followed by the subject which comes before the main verb. Auxiliary Verb Subject Main Verb Do you live in Poland?How long has she worked at that company? Sometimes we dont really want to ask a question but just want to check information. For example, if you are sure that a friend lives in Seattle but want to check to make sure, you might use a question tag. Tom lives in Seattle, doesnt he? In this case, it isnt necessary to ask a question because you already know the information. Using a question tag helps you confirm that the information you know is correct. Question tags can also change meaning based on how you pronounce the tag at the end of the sentence. If you raise your voice on the question tag you are asking if the information you just stated is indeed correct. Using question tags in this manner helps to make sure that you are doing something correctly, or understand a situation accurately. Here are some examples: A mom buying some jeans for her daughter: You wear size 2, dont you?A friend writing a birthday card to a friend: Peter was born on March 2, wasnt he?A job interviewer checking information on a resume: You havent worked at this company before, have you? At other times, you drop the voice at the question tag. When dropping the voice at the question tag, you indicate that you are confirming information. Here are some examples: Young man filling out a form speaking to his wife: We live on Cherry St, dont we?Friend looking at a calendar with a meeting noted: Were meeting later this afternoon, arent we?Friend speaking to her friend as they walk in the rain: The sun wont shine today, will it? Forming question tags is very easy. Remember that the question tag uses the auxiliary verb in the opposite form of the sentence itself. In other words, if the sentence is positive, the question tag takes the negative form of the auxiliary verb. If the sentence is negative, the question tag employs the positive form. Heres a quick review of principle tenses, the auxiliary form they take, and an example of a positive and a negative question tag for each tense: EXAMPLE 1. Tense: Past Continuous Auxiliary Verb: Was / Were (to be) Positive Sentence Question Tag Example: Andy was working when you arrived, wasnt he? Negative Sentence Question Tag Example: They werent waiting for you, were they? EXAMPLE 2. Tense: Present Perfect Auxiliary Verb: Have / Has (to have) Positive Sentence Question Tag Example: Harry has lived in New York for a long time, hasnt he? Negative Sentence Question Tag Example: We havent visited our friends in Chicago this year, have we? EXAMPLE 3. Tense: Past Perfect Auxiliary Verb: Had (to have) Positive Sentence Question Tag Example: They had finished before he arrived, hadnt they? Negative Sentence Question Tag Example: Jason hadnt already finished before you provided the update, had he? EXAMPLE 4. Tense: Future with Will Auxiliary Verb: Will Positive Sentence Question Tag Example: Tom will think about it, wont he? Negative Sentence Question Tag Example: They wont be able to come to the party, will they? EXAMPLE 5. Tense: Future with Going to Auxiliary Verb: Is / Are / Am (to be) Positive Sentence Question Tag Example: Tom is going to study Russian, isnt he? Negative Sentence Question Tag Example: They arent going to be at the meeting, are they?

Example Sentences of the Verb Break

Example Sentences of the Verb Break This page provides example sentences of the verb break in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. Base Form break / Past Simple broke / Past Participle broken / Gerund breaking Present Simple Some glass breaks easily. Present Simple Passive This toy is often broken by children. Present Continuous He is breaking into his new job well. Present Continuous Passive The house is being broken into! Call the police! Present Perfect He has broken a number of records in his field. Present Perfect Passive That vase has been broken more than four times. Present Perfect Continuous Mary has been breaking open eggs for more than twenty minutes. Past Simple Jack broke that computer last week. Past Simple Passive That computer was broken last week. Past Continuous She was breaking open the champagne as I walked into the room. Past Continuous Passive The champagne was being broken open as I walked into the room. Past Perfect They had already broken into the house when the occupants arrived. Past Perfect Passive The house had already been broken into when the occupants arrived. Past Perfect Continuous She had been breaking open the eggs for twenty minutes before she began making the cake. Future (will) I think he will break that toy. Future (will) Passive That toy will be broken soon! Future (going to) She is going to break that dish! Be Careful! Future (going to) Passive That dish is going to be broken soon. Future Continuous I will be breaking into a new job this time next week. Future Perfect Your vows will have been broken by the time you read this letter. Future Possibility You might break that glass. Real Conditional If you do that, youll break the toy. Unreal Conditional If she broke the vase, her mother would be very angry. Past Unreal Conditional If she hadnt broken that vase, her mother wouldnt have become so angry. Present Modal You must break this glass to get the fire extinguisher. Past Modal Jack must have broken this vase. Hes so clumsy. Quiz: Conjugate With Break Use the verb to break to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In some cases, more than one answer may be correct. Mary _____ open eggs for more than twenty minutes.That computer ______ by Tom last week.I think he _____ that toy.She _____ open the champagne as I walked into the room.He _____ a number of records in his field.The house _____ into! Call the police!If you do that, you _____ the toy.If she _____ that vase, her mother wouldnt have become so angry.Jack _____ that computer last week.Some glass _____ easily. Quiz Answers has been breakingwas brokenwill breakwas breakinghas brokenis being brokenwill breakhadnt brokenbrokebreaks