Traduction du question tag "n'est-ce pas?"

Have you ? Wasn't it ? sont des question tags (des mini-questions que nous ajoutons souvent à la fin d'une phrase en anglais parlé).
1) on emploie un auxiliaire (have/was/will/is/should/can etc).
2) on emploie do / does/ did pour le présent et le prétérit (passé).

Remarque. L'intonation peut varier, selon le sens qu'on veut donner
(voir plus bas dans la page).

Positive sentence -> negative question tag
phrase affirmative -> question tag négatif
- avec auxiliaire is, was, will, have, can etc

- she is at Strasbourg Christmas market, isn't she ?
- it's a nice day, isn't it ?
- they are tired, aren't they ?
- it was a good film, wasn't it ? 
- you were ill last week, weren't you ?
- she will go to London, won't she ?
- they can travel by train, can't they ?
- Jim should pass the exam, shouldn't he ?
- the oceans must be saved, mustn't they ?
- Ann has applied for the job, hasn't she ?
- she's going to have a party for her birthday, isn't she ?

Exceptions. On dit
- ...aren't I? (= am I not?)
I'm late, aren't I ?
- let's .... -> shall we ?
let's go for a walk, shall we ?

Positive sentence -> negative question tag
Phrase affirmative -> question tag négatif
- pas d'auxiliaire, ajouter do, does ou did

- Jimmy works hard, doesn't he ?
- our planet is in danger, isn't it ?
- Cathy works at home too, doesn't she ?
- they go skiing every year, don't they ?
- you like hiking, don't you ?
- the boat travelled in harsh conditions, didn't it ?
- they crossed the ocean in severe weather conditions, didn't they ?
- they fled religious persecution, didn't they ?
- he lived a lovely adventure with his hen, didn't he ?

Negative sentence -> positive question tag
phrase négative  -> question tag affirmatif
+ auxiliaire

- Tom isn't at home, is he ?
- the weather forecast isn't good, is it ?
- you're retired now, aren't you ?
- they haven't got a car, have they ?
- there wasn't any bus, was there ?
- you can't say the contrary, can you ?
- they couldn't miss the bus, could they ?
- you weren't listening, were you ?
- you can't remain inactive, can you ?
- i shouldn't have lost my temper, should i ?

Negative sentence -> positive tag
Phrase négative -> question tag positif

- you don't work on Mondays, do you ?
- she doesn't celebrate Christmas, does she ?
- they don't travel a lot, do they ?
- he doesn't like reading, does he ?
- you won't forget to call me, will you ?
- i shouldn't have lost my temper, should i ?
- they didn't like us, did they ?
- she won't come to the party, will she ?
- they haven't got a car, have they ?

Exception.
Imperative -> do.../ don't do... -> will you ?
- don't be late, will you?
- open the door, will you ?

L'intonation dans les question tags,

-soit montante, soit descendante

1) intonation descendante -> on ne pose pas vraiment une question ici, mais on invite

l'autre personne à confirmer, à être d'accord avec vous :

A- it's a nice day, isn't it ? (on baisse le ton, la voix)  
 B- Yes, lovely. (réponse, confirmation)

A- Tim doesn't look well today, does he ?
B- No, he looks very tired.

A- You haven't seen Mary today, have you ?
B- No, I'm afraid not.


2) intonation montante -> c'est une vraie question qu'on pose à l'autre personne, on lui demande son avis :

A- You haven't got a pen, have you ?
B- Yes, here you are

A- You couldn't help me, could you ?
B- It depends what it is.

A- You don't know Karen, do you ?
B- Sorry, I've no idea.

Published by I.M-T. Nov' 2023