Do people use question tags?

Question

I hardly hear people use question tags, whether they are native English speaking people or not. Are they still in use? Sometimes I find that using them sounds somewhat theatrical. In some circumstances I find using the question tags exactly as the grammar dictates sounds somewhat unnatural. I would rather say for example, "You will go there, will you?" than "You will go there, won't you?"

I would like to hear some comments. Thanks!

Regards · Accepted Answer

Hi,

healerAre they still in use?

Yes. And they are here to stay, aren't they?

Regards

Healer · Answer

Then is it all right to say "You went there, did you?" to confirm my thinking when I sense that the hearer did go there.  I often feel that saying "You went there, didn't you?" has a connotation of instinctively feeling his or her having not gone there.

Shawn79 · Answer

In the affirmative they can have hidden meaning with a certain tone of voice, for example:

You will do xyz, will you? - Can almost sound like a challenge, like "no you won't!"

You did xyz, did you? - Could sound judgmental.

The negative is the correct form for general use. It doesn't suggest a negative answer.

Healer · Answer

Thanks!  That's what I like to hear.  Of course I only want to hear correct things.

CalifJim · Answer

healerI hardly hear people use question tags, whether they are native English speaking people or not.

Strange. I hear them.

healerAre they still in use?

Yes.

healerSometimes I find that using them sounds somewhat theatrical.

There's nothing theatrical about them unless you're talking about that chiefly British usage where no question is really being asked and tags are just added to statements in the story being told, but even that doesn't exactly qualify in my mind as theatrical.

Of course she says that, doesn't she? She's your mother-in-law, isn't she? It's just like her, isn't it?

healerIn some circumstances I find using the question tags exactly as the grammar dictates sounds somewhat unnatural.

You may have to change your mind on this.

healerI would rather say for example, "You will go there, will you?" than "You will go there, won't you?"

I don't recommend that substitution. Previous replies in this thread should convince you that your preferred method could have a meaning you don't want to convey.

CJ

Healer · Answer

Thanks for your input too.  Perhaps I need to hear more of those to get used to the way meant to be used.

Do people use question tags?

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