A question converted from a statement by an appended interrogative formula, e.g. it's nice out, isn't it?
〔语法〕附加疑问句
Example sentencesExamples
The most common form of tag question is one where a positive statement is followed by a negative tag or a negative statement by a positive tag.
Out of a number of studies done between 1976 and 1980 on tag questions, six found that women used more tag questions than men, while five found that men used more than women.
Verbal behaviors related to these descriptors include the presence of politeness markers, tag questions, verbal hedging, euphemistic and supportive-responsive speech, inclusive reference, and indirect speech.
Robin Lakoff's 1975 account of English tag questions, based on her introspective judgments, was that such tags ‘are associated with a desire for confirmation or approval which signals a lack of self-confidence in the speaker.’
We use tag questions when we are already sure of the answer and just want confirmation (falling intonation with the tag question).
Definition of tag question in US English:
tag question
nountæɡ ˈkwɛstʃən
Grammar
A question converted from a statement by an appended interrogative formula, e.g. it's nice out, isn't it?
〔语法〕附加疑问句
Example sentencesExamples
Robin Lakoff's 1975 account of English tag questions, based on her introspective judgments, was that such tags ‘are associated with a desire for confirmation or approval which signals a lack of self-confidence in the speaker.’
Verbal behaviors related to these descriptors include the presence of politeness markers, tag questions, verbal hedging, euphemistic and supportive-responsive speech, inclusive reference, and indirect speech.
We use tag questions when we are already sure of the answer and just want confirmation (falling intonation with the tag question).
Out of a number of studies done between 1976 and 1980 on tag questions, six found that women used more tag questions than men, while five found that men used more than women.
The most common form of tag question is one where a positive statement is followed by a negative tag or a negative statement by a positive tag.