tag question

  • 1tag question — This is the grammarians name for a question added at the end of a statement and acting as a reinforcer rather than seeking an answer, as in You will do this for me, won t you? / She has been to America, hasn t she? / I don t need an umbrella, do… …

    Modern English usage

  • 2tag question — tag .question n technical a question that is formed by adding a phrase such as can t we? , wouldn t he? , or is it? to a sentence …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 3tag question — tag ,question noun count LINGUISTICS a word or phrase such as isn t it? or haven t you? that you can add to a sentence to make a question …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 4tag question — n. a brief question with the general meaning “Is it not so?”, added to a declarative or imperative sentence: it is negative in construction when the original sentence is affirmative, and vice versa (Ex.: It isn t raining, is it? Hurry now, won t… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Tag question — A Tag question (also: question tag) is a grammatical structure in which a declarative statement or an imperative is turned into a question by adding an interrogative fragment (the tag ). The term tag question is generally preferred by American… …

    Wikipedia

  • 6tag question — noun Etymology: tag (I) : a question (as isn t it in “it s fine, isn t it?” or is it in “Oh it is, is it?”) added to a statement or command (as to gain the assent of or challenge the person addressed) ; also : a sentence ending in a tag question… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 7tag question — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms tag question : singular tag question plural tag questions linguistics a question tag …

    English dictionary

  • 8tag question — noun Date: 1933 a question (as isn t it in “it s fine, isn t it?”) added to a statement or command (as to gain the assent of or challenge the person addressed); also a sentence ending in a tag question …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9tag question — tag′ ques tion n. gram. a short interrogative structure appended to a statement or command, often inviting confirmation or assent, as isn t it in It s raining, isn t it?[/ex] • Etymology: 1960–65 …

    From formal English to slang

  • 10tag question — /ˈtæg kwɛstʃən/ (say tag kweschuhn) noun Grammar a question in the form of a statement followed by a short question requesting confirmation or negation from the listener, as in It is cold today, isn t it? or We must leave immediately, do you… …