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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Form question tags correctly (positive → negative, negative → positive)
✓
Use question tags to confirm information
✓
Keep conversations interactive and engaging
✓
Build rapport through check-ins and small talk
💡
Key for this lesson

Positive statement → negative tag: "You've seen the report, haven't you?" Negative statement → positive tag: "You don't have the file, do you?"

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Positive → Negative

Confirming Expected "Yes"

Positive statement, + negative tag?

Be: "You're coming to the meeting, aren't you?"

Have: "You've seen the brief, haven't you?"

Modal: "We can start now, can't we?"

..., isn't it?..., haven't you?..., doesn't she?
Negative → Positive

Confirming Expected "No"

Negative statement, + positive tag?

Be: "You aren't busy right now, are you?"

Do: "You don't have the file, do you?"

Modal: "We can't delay this, can we?"

..., is it?..., do you?..., can we?
🔑
Match the Auxiliary

The tag uses the same auxiliary as the main clause. "You have finished, haven't you?" "She works here, doesn't she?"

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Confirming Information

📅Meetings: "The meeting is at 3, isn't it?"
📋Tasks: "You've finished the report, haven't you?"
📧Emails: "You received my email, didn't you?"
👥Attendance: "Sarah is joining us, isn't she?"

Engaging in Conversation

☀️Small talk: "Nice weather today, isn't it?"
🏢Office: "This office is quite modern, isn't it?"
💼Projects: "It's been a busy week, hasn't it?"
🎯Agreement: "We all want this to succeed, don't we?"
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Correct Question Tags

✓
"You've seen the brief, haven't you?"

Have (positive) → haven't (negative tag)

✓
"The client called this morning, didn't they?"

Called (past) → didn't (past negative tag)

✓
"We can't postpone this, can we?"

Can't (negative) → can (positive tag)

✓
"This is the final version, isn't it?"

Is (positive) → isn't (negative tag)

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Common Mistakes

✗
"You're coming, are you?" (double positive)

Use: "You're coming, aren't you?"

✗
"She works here, isn't she?"

Use: "She works here, doesn't she?" (match auxiliary)

✗
"You have done it, haven't it?"

Use: "...haven't you?" (match subject)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a meeting check-in conversation:

🎵Audio: Meeting Check-in
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Manager: Good morning, everyone. Nice weather today, isn't it?

Team: Yes, lovely!

Manager: Right, let's get started. You've all seen the agenda, haven't you?

Tom: Yes, we have.

Manager: Great. Sarah is joining us remotely, isn't she?

Tom: That's right. She's dialing in now.

Manager: Perfect. Now, the deadline hasn't changed, has it?

Lisa: No, it's still Friday.

Manager: Good. We can't afford any delays, can we?

Lisa: Definitely not.

Manager: Tom, you finished the first draft, didn't you?

Tom: Yes, I sent it last night.

Manager: Excellent. Lisa, you're handling the client presentation, aren't you?

Lisa: Yes, that's correct. I've been preparing all week.

Manager: It's been a busy week, hasn't it? But we're nearly there!

Question 1: Has the deadline changed?

Question 2: What did Tom finish?

Question 3: Complete: "You've all seen the agenda, _______ you?"

🧠

Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

Complete: "You're coming to the meeting, ___?"

Aare you
Baren't you
Cisn't it
2

Complete: "She works in marketing, ___?"

Adoesn't she
Bisn't she
Cdon't she
3

Complete: "You don't have the file, ___?"

Adon't you
Bdo you
Chave you
✏️

Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Add the correct question tag

1. The meeting is at 10, _______?

2. You've finished the report, _______?

3. She can't attend tomorrow, _______?

4. They sent the email yesterday, _______?

🗣️

Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
📚
Preparation for Class

Practice confirming information and making small talk with question tags.

✅ Task 1: Confirming (1 min)

Confirm work details: "The deadline is Friday, isn't it?"

💬 Task 2: Small Talk (2 min)

Make conversation: "Nice office, isn't it? / Busy week, hasn't it been?"

✨
Well Done!

Key rule: Positive → negative tag / Negative → positive tag. Match the auxiliary and subject!
Next: Lesson 7.3 - Reported Speech (Introduction)

Module Overview
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