Lección 67 · Etapa 5: Pasiva, estilo indirecto y preguntas
Question tags
IntermedioForma y uso
…, isn't it? / …, don't you? — una pregunta corta al final para confirmar
1.Forma
Un question tag es coma + auxiliar + pronombre al final de una oración. Una oración afirmativa lleva un tag negativo; una oración negativa lleva un tag afirmativo.
| Auxiliar | Afirmativa → tag negativo | Negativa → tag afirmativo |
|---|---|---|
| am / is / are | It's cold today, isn't it? | You aren't busy, are you? |
| do / does (presente simple) | You like coffee, don't you? | He doesn't eat meat, does he? |
| did (pasado simple) | They left early, didn't they? | You didn't call, did you? |
| was / were | It was fun, wasn't it? | They weren't there, were they? |
| have / has (present perfect) | You've met Lan, haven't you? | She hasn't finished, has she? |
| will | You'll come, won't you? | It won't rain, will it? |
| can / could / should… | Mai can swim, can't she? | You can't drive, can you? |
- Si la oración tiene un auxiliar (be, have, will, can…), repite ese auxiliar. Si está en presente simple o pasado simple sin auxiliar, usa do / does / did.
- El tag siempre usa un pronombre: Your parents are teachers, aren't they? / This is your bag, isn't it? (this/that → it; these/those → they).
- Los tags negativos siempre van contraídos: isn't it, don't you, haven't they.
- Cuidado con 's y 'd: She's tired → isn't she; She's finished → hasn't she; You'd better → hadn't you; You'd rather → wouldn't you.
A diferencia de “¿verdad?” o “¿no?”, que nunca cambian, el tag en inglés tiene que concordar con el auxiliar y el sujeto: “isn't it?” no sirve para cualquier oración: You like coffee, don't you? Si necesitas algo rápido en una conversación informal, right? funciona con cualquier oración: You like coffee, right?
2.Cuándo se usa
1. Para comprobar algo que crees que es verdad
You're from Da Nang, aren't you?
Eres de Da Nang, ¿verdad?
The shop closes at nine, doesn't it?
La tienda cierra a las nueve, ¿no?
2. Para dar conversación e invitar al otro a estar de acuerdo: a menudo sobre el tiempo, la comida o algo que ven los dos
The weather is lovely today, isn't it?
Hoy hace un día precioso, ¿verdad?
That was a great film, wasn't it?
Fue una película genial, ¿no?
3. Peticiones corteses: una oración negativa + un tag afirmativo suena modesta y amable
You couldn't lend me your charger, could you?
¿No me podrías prestar tu cargador?
You haven't seen my glasses, have you?
¿No habrás visto mis gafas, por casualidad?
Responde a un question tag según los hechos, no según estés de acuerdo o no con quien habla: You don't eat meat, do you? — No, I don't. (= no como carne) / Yes, I do. (= sí como carne).
3.Casos especiales
| Caso | Ejemplo |
|---|---|
| I am → aren't I (I'm not → am I) | I'm late again, aren't I? / I'm not late, am I? |
| Let's → shall we | Let's go for a walk, shall we? |
| Imperativo → will you / would you / could you | Pass me the salt, will you? / Don't forget to lock the door, will you? |
| never, nothing, nobody, hardly, rarely… = sentido negativo → tag afirmativo | Your brother's never been abroad, has he? / Nothing went wrong, did it? |
| everyone, someone, nobody… → they | Everyone's here, aren't they? / Nobody called, did they? |
| everything, nothing → it | Everything is ready, isn't it? |
| there is / there are → there | There's a pharmacy near here, isn't there? |
| used to → didn't | Your grandfather used to be a teacher, didn't he? |
| have got → haven't / hasn't | You've got a new phone, haven't you? |
Una oración afirmativa + un tag afirmativo (So you're moving to Hanoi, are you?) muestra sorpresa o interés por una noticia que acabas de oír: no es un error.
4.Entonación: ascendente o descendente
El mismo tag significa cosas distintas según si tu voz baja ↘ o sube ↗ al final.
- Descendente ↘: estás bastante seguro y solo esperas que el otro esté de acuerdo.
- Ascendente ↗: de verdad no estás seguro y quieres una respuesta.
It's a beautiful day, isn't it? ↘
Hace un día precioso, ¿verdad? (descendente: esperas que te den la razón)
You've been to Hue, haven't you? ↗
Has estado en Hue, ¿no? (ascendente: una pregunta de verdad)
You haven't seen my keys, have you? ↗
No habrás visto mis llaves, ¿verdad? (ascendente: esperas que la respuesta sea sí)
5.Errores comunes
You like coffee, isn't it?You like coffee, don't you?
El tag depende del auxiliar y del sujeto de la oración: like → don't, you → you.
She didn't come to class, didn't she?She didn't come to class, did she?
Oración negativa → tag afirmativo.
Your parents are teachers, isn't it?Your parents are teachers, aren't they?
Sujeto en plural → are … they.
She's finished her homework, isn't she?She's finished her homework, hasn't she?
Aquí 's significa has (has finished).
Everyone was tired after the hike, wasn't he?Everyone was tired after the hike, weren't they?
everyone → they, que va con were.
Don't forget to lock the door, don't you?Don't forget to lock the door, will you?
Los imperativos llevan el tag will you.
Ejemplos
- She works at a bank, doesn't she?
- They went to the beach yesterday, didn't they?
- These shoes look expensive, don't they?
- Your sister was working at the hospital last year, wasn't she?
