Speech : Question Tags rising and falling - SS1 English Lesson Note

Question tags are used to add a question to a statement. They are usually formed by adding a pronoun and a verb to the end of a statement. For example, You're coming, aren't you? She's not here, is she?They're happy, aren't they?

The tone of voice used when asking a question tag is important. The tone of voice should rise at the end of the question tag to indicate that you are asking a question. For example, "You're coming, aren't you?" She's not here, is she?They're happy, aren't they?

If the tone of voice does not rise at the end of the question tag, it may sound like you are making a statement. For example, You're coming, aren't you? (This sounds like you are stating that the person is coming.)

She's not here, is she? (This sounds like you are stating that the person is not here.)

They're happy, aren't they? (This sounds like you are stating that the people are happy.)

It is important to practice using question tags with the correct tone of voice. This will help you to sound more natural when speaking English.

Here are some additional tips for using question tags:

Use question tags sparingly. Too many question tags can make you sound unsure of yourself.

Use question tags to add emphasis. For example, you could say:

"You're coming, aren't you? I really need your help."

Use question tags to show that you are interested in what the other person is saying. For example, you could say:

"So, you're going to the beach this weekend, aren't you? That sounds like fun!"

Use question tags to make a request more polite. For example, you could say:

"Could you help me with this, please? I'm really struggling."