Style - Understand Tag Questions

Matching practice

THese aren’t difficult, but you need to learn to recognise them fast, as the TOEIC / conversation will expect an answer soon after you hear the tag.

• The meeting starts at 9:00 AM, _____?
  • a) doesn’t it?
  • b) won’t it?
  • c) isn’t it?
  • d) does it?
• You haven’t finished the report yet, _____?
  • a) haven’t you?
  • b) have you?
  • c) do you?
  • d) did you?
• This is the correct way to the airport, _____?
  • a) is it?
  • b) isn’t it?
  • c) was it?
  • d) will it?
• He doesn’t like spicy food, _____?
  • a) does he?
  • b) doesn’t he?
  • c) did he?
  • d) will he?
• We should book our tickets in advance, _____?
  • a) shouldn’t we?
  • b) should we?
  • c) do we?
  • d) did we?
• They won’t be able to attend the meeting, _____?
  • a) will they?
  • b) won’t they?
  • c) did they?
  • d) didn’t they?
• You’ve already visited Paris, _____?
  • a) haven’t you?
  • b) have you?
  • c) did you?
  • d) didn’t you?
• She didn’t pass the exam, _____?
  • a) did she?
  • b) didn’t she?
  • c) does she?
  • d) doesn’t she?
• It’s a beautiful day, _____?
  • a) isn’t it?
  • b) is it?
  • c) will it?
  • d) won’t it?
• The package arrived yesterday, _____?
  • a) didn’t it?
  • b) did it?
  • c) isn’t it?
  • d) does it?

TOEIC tricks

These are all CHECK questions, and the TOEIC usually tricks you by making the question not yes or no, but some other answer to “deshou?” Expect something like

• I’m not sure, but I’ll ask the customer.
• Maybe/Perhaps/Possibly but let’s call and see
• I think so
• Probably, but I’ll check to make sure.
• I don’t know, sorry.
• I hope so, it’s important.
• Sorry, it didn’t. I’ll make sure it arrives tomorrow.
• Definitely, I called him to check.