Questions & Negatives

Tag questions and indirect questions

Introduction

Tag questions are a distinctive feature of conversational English, especially British English. They're short questions added to statements to check information or invite agreement.

Indirect questions are essential for polite requests and formal situations. Instead of "Where is the station?" you might ask "Could you tell me where the station is?"

Mastering these question forms will make your English more conversational and appropriate for different social situations.

Themes

All Grammar (Basic) in This Chapter (7)

• Tag Questions Short questions added to statements to confirm or check
• Indirect Questions Polite questions embedded in statements
• Subject vs Object Questions Different structures when asking about subjects or objects
• Embedded Questions (Noun Clauses) Questions within statements using normal word order
• Negative Questions Questions expecting a positive answer or expressing surprise
• Question Tags (Formation) Rules for forming question tags
• Reply Questions Showing interest or surprise in conversation