martes, 2 de junio de 2015
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Questions Tags
Tag questions (or question tags) turn a statement into a question. They are often used for checking information that we think we know is true.
Tag questions are made using an auxiliary verb (for example: be or have) and a subject pronoun (for example: I, you, she). Negative question tags are usually contracted: It's warm today, isn't it (not 'is it not')
Usually if the main clause is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the main clause is negative, it's positive. For example: It's cold (positive), isn't it (negative)? And: It isn't cold (negative), is it (positive)?
If the main clause has an auxiliary verb in it, you use the same verb in the tag question. If there is no auxiliary verb (in the present simple and past simple) use do / does / did (just like when you make a normal question).
There is one wierd exception: the question tag after I am is aren't I.
For example: I'm in charge of the food, aren't I?
Postive sentences, with negative tags
| Present simple 'be' | She's Italian, isn't she? |
| Present simple other verbs | They live in London, don't they? |
| Present continuous | We're working tomorrow, aren't we? |
| Past simple 'be' | It was cold yesterday, wasn't it? |
| Past simple other verbs | He went to the party last night, didn't he? |
| Past continuous | We were waiting at the station, weren't we? |
| Present perfect | They've been to Japan, haven't they? |
| Present perfect continuous | She's been studying a lot recently, hasn't she? |
| Past perfect | He had forgotten his wallet, hadn't he? |
| Past perfect continuous | We'd been working, hadn't we? |
| Future simple | She'll come at six, won't she? |
| Future continuous | They'll be arriving soon, won't they? |
| Future perfect | They'll have finished before nine, won't they? |
| Future perfect continuous | She'll have been cooking all day, won't she? |
| Modals | He can help, can't he? |
| Modals | John must stay, mustn't he? |
Negative sentences, with positive tags
| Present simple 'be' | We aren't late, are we? |
| Present simple other verbs | She doesn't have any children, does she? |
| Present continuous | The bus isn't coming, is it? |
| Past simple 'be' | She wasn't at home yesterday, was she? |
| Past simple other verbs | They didn't go out last Sunday, did they? |
| Past continuous | You weren't sleeping, were you? |
| Present perfect | She hasn't eaten all the cake, has she? |
| Present perfect continuous | He hasn't been running in this weather, has he? |
| Past perfect | We hadn't been to London before, had we? |
| Past perfect continuous | You hadn't been sleeping, had you? |
| Future simple | They won't be late, will they? |
| Future continuous | He'll be studying tonight, won't he? |
| Future perfect | She won't have left work before six, will she? |
| Future perfect continuous | He won't have been travelling all day, will he? |
| Modals | She can't speak Arabic, can she? |
| Modals | They mustn't come early, must they? |
Exercise:
Future simple
Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
Structure
The structure of the Future Simple tense is:
FORM Will
[will + verb]
Examples:
- You will help him later.
- Will you help him later?
- You will not help him later.
FORM Be Going To
[am/is/are + going to + verb]
Examples:
- You are going to meet Jane tonight.
- Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
- You are not going to meet Jane tonight.
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.
Examples:
- I will send you the information when I get it.
- I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
- Will you help me move this heavy table?
- Will you make dinner?
- I will not do your homework for you.
- I won't do all the housework myself!
- A: I'm really hungry.B: I'll make some sandwiches.
- A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.B: I'll get you some coffee.
- A: The phone is ringing.B: I'll get it.
USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
Examples:
- I will call you when I arrive.
- If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
- I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
- Don't worry, I'll be careful.
- I won't tell anyone your secret.
USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.
Examples:
- He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
- She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
- A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM. - I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
- Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
- They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
- Who are you going to invite to the party?
- A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.
Examples:
- The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
- The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
- John Smith will be the next President.
- John Smith is going to be the next President.
- The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.
- The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.
Examples:
- When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
- When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You will never help him.
- Will you ever help him?
- You are never going to meet Jane.
- Are you ever going to meet Jane?
Exercise
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