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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?"

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"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 an informal project review:

🎵Audio: Design Review
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Maria: Hi Tom. You've got a moment, haven't you? I just want to go over the designs for the new client. You sent them over this morning, didn't you? I've had a quick look. They look very professional. The client is going to like them, aren't they?

Now, on slide five, you used the old logo. That isn't the final version, is it? We need to use the one that was approved last week. You have that file, don't you? Good. It's a small change, but it's an important deliverable.

Also, the deadline for the full presentation is next Friday. We can't miss that, can we? The project manager is very strict about timelines. It shouldn't be a problem, should it? You're on track with everything else.

Okay, so your next step is to update the logo. You'll send me the revised version by the end of the day, won't you? This is a high-priority task. After that, we can prepare for the client meeting. It's going to be a great presentation, isn't it? Let me know if you need any help.

Question 1: What is the first thing Maria wants to confirm with Tom?

💡 Hint: Listen for Maria's opening question: "You've got a moment, haven't you?"

Question 2: What is the main issue Maria points out in the designs?

💡 Hint: Listen for Maria saying "on slide five, you used the old logo."

Question 3: According to Maria, what can't they miss?

💡 Hint: Listen for Maria saying "The deadline for the full presentation is next Friday. We can't miss that, can we?"

Question 4: Fill in the gap: "You'll send me the revised version by the end of the day, _____ _____?"

💡 Hint: Listen for the question tag after a positive statement with "will".
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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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