UNIT 1: SMALL TALKS

UNIT 1

SMALL TALKS

Grammar 1

 TAG QUESTIONS: USE AND FORM

A tag question is a small question that is attached , or "tagged", to the end of a sentence. Rather than repeat the main verb, a form of "be" or other auxiliary verb or modal is used in the tag.

Tag questions for affirmative sentences are negative

For example:  

• She is cooking, isn't she?

• You had talked to Mary, hadn't you?

• He was dating that celebrity chef, wasn't he?

If the sentence is negative, the tag is usually positive

For example: 

• He never drinks alcohol, does he?

• We've never met, have we?

• We can't reserve a table, can we?

When we use "am" it changes to "are"

For example:

• I am right, aren't you?

THE PAST PERFECT

It expresses an action that ocurred in the past

(the verb is used in the past)

Affirmative Grammar

Sub + had + verb past + com

• I had meet them before the meeting

• My sister had visited Brasil several times, so that's why she knows it so well

• If you had studied hard last year, he would have passed all his exams

Negative grammar 

Sub + had + not + verb past + com

• He had not talked to my brother

• You had not visited your sister before she went to Colombia

Interrogative grammar 

 Had + sub + verb past + com

• Had Adriana told the other before she went home?

• Had Ashley taken the spot before we arrived?