Essential English Grammar Structures

Mastering Complex English Structures

Tag Questions: Examples and Usage

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a statement. They are used to confirm information or encourage a reply. Note the reversal of polarity (positive statement uses a negative tag, and vice versa).

• Everything has a beginning, doesn't it?
• It doesn't really make you angry, does it?
• You don't think they're too close, do you?
• She didn't think to have it all sunshine, did she?
• I have got a lot, haven't I?
• It is rather soon, isn't it?
• You're not to blame, are you?
• I'm not too old for the moon-run, am I?
• You've seen my snuff-box, haven't you?
• You're not thinking she had anything to do with the murder, are you?
• It was a visitation, wasn't it?
• It sounds so respectable and sane, doesn't it?
• You are not ashamed of me, are you?
• They're abstracted from the world, aren't they?
• You don't think anything's happened to her, do you?
• I told you about it, didn't I?
• We are going, aren't we?
• We're across the desert, aren't we?
• It isn't anything serious, is it?
• You haven't got any need, have you?

Indirect Questions: Examples of Embedded Clauses

Indirect questions are polite ways of asking questions, often embedded within a statement or another question. They maintain standard statement word order (Subject + Verb) in the embedded clause.

• Can you tell me why she cried?
• I'd like to know if she speaks Greek.
• Do you know where Joe is?
• Do you have any idea what time the show starts?
• I wonder if he is all right.
• Would you mind telling me what he wanted?
• Could you let me know whose car it was?
• Do you have any idea if this is the right train?
• I wonder when they will get married.
• I'd like to know how long she has known him.
• I was wondering if you could babysit tonight.
• Can you tell me what her name is?
• Could you let me know if they have any free tickets?
• Can you remember where the boxes were?
• Do you know which countries she visited?

Passive Voice with Present Modal Verbs

The passive structure for present modals and modal equivalents is: Subject + Modal + be + Past Participle.

• Our room must be painted (by us).
• Our car can't be repaired (by them).
• The new programme is going to be installed (by someone).
• The dog should be fed once a day (by them).
• This exercise can't be solved by Mary.
• A new book is going to be published (by them).
• He must be informed about the news (by us).
• The matter should be discussed again (by us).
• A new bridge is going to be built (by them).
• Coffee used to be made every morning (by him).
• A new computer may be bought by Tom.
• Tina might not be invited to the party by Laura.
• Dinner has to be prepared for everyone by Karen.
• Our homework needn't be done now (by us).
• The house used to be cleaned every day (by her).

Passive Voice with Past Modal Verbs

The passive structure for past modals is: Subject + Modal + have been + Past Participle.

• The money can't have been stolen by Mark.
• The police should have been informed (by us).
• A mistake might have been made by Maria.
• You could have been killed by the truck.
• This picture might have been painted by him before the war.
• The criminal must have been arrested by the police by now.
• The doctor should have been called immediately (by them).
• Her former husband can't have been invited by her.
• The house may have been damaged by the fire.
• The electricity bill must have been paid by him.