"Same-way" question tags

You are probably familiar with a negative question tag stuck on the end of an affirmative statement, like this:
• George has a lovely house, doesn't he?

Or an affirmative tag stuck on the end of a negative statement, like this:
• George doesn't need to worry about money, does he?

If you can't quite remember how to form these, you can remind yourself here.

Every month in Spotlight magazine, Will O'Ryan examines the finer points of grammar in a section called Perfectionists Only! In the June issue, he explains what he calls the "other" questions tags. These are affirmative statements with affirmative tags, like this:
• You have time to help me, do you?
• You're just back from your holiday, are you?

This type of question tag can express interest, concern, surprise or anger and even sarcasm.

For a more in-depth look at this type of question tag, go to page 61 of the June Spotlight. For a taster of what you'll find there, try our exercise on the next page.

Dagmar Taylor