Foundation grammar · Unit 41 · A2

Have you? Are you? Don't you? etc.

Auxiliary verbs

Short questions such as have you? and is it? show interest or surprise at what somebody has just said. Question tags such as isn't it? and do you? go at the end of a sentence.

Go to the exercises

A Have you? Is it? Can't he? Showing interest or surprise

When somebody tells you something, you can reply with a short question: have you? / is it? / can't he? and so on. It shows that you are interested, or surprised, or at least awake.

"I've bought a canal boat." "Oh, have you?"

The short question uses the same auxiliary as the sentence, with the person turned round: I've becomes have you?, she isn't becomes isn't she?.

For the present simple, use do / does. For the past simple, use did.

  • "You're late." "Oh, am I? Sorry."
  • "I was in hospital last week." "Were you? I had no idea."
  • "It's snowing again." "Is it? I've just hung the washing out."
  • "There's a parcel for you." "Is there? Who's it from?"
  • "Callum can't swim." "Can't he? He lives next to the beach."
  • "I'm not cold." "Aren't you? I'm freezing."
  • "Grace isn't at college today." "Isn't she? She was here yesterday."
  • "I play the drums." "Do you? Since when?"
  • "Owen doesn't watch telly." "Doesn't he? What does he do in the evenings?"
  • "Nadia got engaged on Saturday." "Did she? Who to?"

B Question tags

You can also put have you? / is it? / can't she? and so on at the end of a sentence. These little questions are question tags. Usually the speaker expects the listener to agree.

The rule:

sentence tag
positive negative
negative positive
positive sentence negative tag likely answer
It's a lovely morning, isn't it? Yes, gorgeous.
Ffion works in Swansea, doesn't she? Yes, that's right.
You locked the back door, didn't you? Yes, twice.
These sandwiches are nice, aren't they? Yes, very nice.
Dev will ring later, won't he? Yes, after work.
negative sentence positive tag likely answer
That isn't your bike, is it? No, mine's in the shed.
You haven't met my dad, have you? No, not yet.
Ffion doesn't drive, does she? No, she gets the bus.
You won't forget, will you? No, I'll remember.
  • It's a lovely morning, isn't it?
  • You locked the back door, didn't you?
  • Dev will ring later, won't he?
  • That isn't your bike, is it?
  • You haven't met my dad, have you?

Exercises

41.1 Answer with Do you? / Doesn't he? / Did she? and so on.

  1. "I play the cello." "Do you? How long have you played it?"

    "I play the cello." "Do you? How long have you played it?"

  2. "I live in Cardiff." "? Which part?"

  3. "I didn't go to the party." "? Everyone was asking about you."

  4. "Ahmed doesn't like cheese." "? Not even on toast?"

  5. "You look sunburnt." "? I was only outside for an hour."

  6. "My aunt rang me this morning." "? Is she still in Spain?"

41.2 Answer with Have you? / Haven't you? / Did she? / Didn't she? and so on.

  1. "I've joined a gym." "Have you? Which one?"

    "I've joined a gym." "Have you? Which one?"

  2. "Kieran doesn't drink tea." "Doesn't he? What does he drink, then?"

    "Kieran doesn't drink tea." "Doesn't he? What does he drink, then?"

  3. "I've lost my glasses." "? Have you checked the top of your head?"

  4. "Lucy can't swim." "? She should have some lessons."

  5. "I was born in Scotland." "? Which part?"

  6. "I didn't sleep at all last night." "? Was it the noise?"

  7. "There's a match on telly tonight." "? Who's playing?"

  8. "I'm not very well." "? What's wrong?"

  9. "I saw your cousin in town yesterday." "? Did he say hello?"

  10. "My sister works in a hospital." "? Is she a nurse?"

  11. "I won't be at work on Monday." "? Are you on holiday?"

  12. "The printer isn't working." "? Have you tried switching it off and on again?"

41.3 Complete the sentences with a question tag (isn't it? / haven't you? and so on). The other person's answer is given.

  1. "It's a lovely evening, isn't it?" "Yes, beautiful."

    "It's a lovely evening, isn't it?" "Yes, beautiful."

  2. "These biscuits are nice, ?" "Yes, where did you get them?"

  3. "Hannah was at the wedding, ?" "Yes, she was wearing a huge hat."

  4. "You've been to Edinburgh, ?" "Yes, twice."

  5. "You speak Welsh, ?" "Yes, a little."

  6. "Mo looks happy, ?" "Yes, he's just passed his driving test."

  7. "You'll ring me, ?" "Yes, as soon as I get home."

41.4 Complete the sentences with a question tag, positive (is it? / do you? and so on) or negative (isn't it? / don't you? and so on).

  1. "You haven't got a bike, have you?" "No, I walk everywhere."

    "You haven't got a bike, have you?" "No, I walk everywhere."

  2. "You aren't hungry, ?" "No, I've just eaten."

  3. "Asha is a brilliant cook, ?" "Yes, her curries are famous."

  4. "You can play the guitar, ?" "Yes, I've played since I was ten."

  5. "You don't know my cousin Ewan, ?" "No. Is he the one with the boat?"

  6. "Liam went to college in Hull, ?" "Yes, he studied engineering."

  7. "The meal wasn't very nice, ?" "No, the chips were cold."

  8. "Rachel lives near the park, ?" "Yes, right opposite the pond."

  9. "You won't forget my birthday, ?" "No, it's in my diary."

See also