Engels: grammar
Unit 1: Market research methods
1.1 Question tags
= short questions at the end of statements, they are mainly used in speech when we want to:
- confirm that something is true or not
- to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to
They are formed with the verb “to be”, an auxiliary or modal verb from the statement, and
the appropriate subject.
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.
Example: Jack is from Spain, isn’t he?
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
Example: They aren’t funny, are they?
When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with
do/does.
Example: You play the guitar, don’t you?
If the verb is in the past simple, we use did.
Example: They went to the cinema, didn’t they?
When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning the question tag needs to be
positive.
Example: He hardly ever speaks, does he?
They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?
When the original sentence doesn’t have “be”, an auxiliary or a modal, we use a form of do.
Exceptions
Some verbs/expressions have different question tags
Example:
I am I am attractive, aren’t I?
Positive imperative Stop daydreaming, will/won’t you?
Negative imperative Don't stop singing, will you?
Lets Let’s go to the beach, shall we
Have got (possession) He has got a car, hasn’t he?
This/that is This is Paul’s pen, isn’t it?
Statements using barely, hardly, neither, no, nobody, none, nothing and seldom are treated
as negative statements.
Example: Nobody went to the meeting did they?
Nothing is ready is it?
When the original sentence contains “somebody, someone, everybody, everyone”, the tag
uses they and a plural verb.
Example: Everyone knows about the new product already don’t they?
When the original sentence contains something, the tag uses it and a singular verb.
Example: Something is wrong here with the app isn’t it?
, 1.1.1 Intonation and meaning
The intonation of a question tag shows the exact meaning of it. If the intonation of the
question tag goes up, it means you are not sure and you want to know the answer.
John doesn’t speak Spanish, does he?
If the intonation of the question tag goes down, it means you are checking/confirming or
making conversation
Example: John doesn't speak Spanish, does he?
1.1.2 Positive question tag
a negative statement + a positive question tag
1.1.3 Purpose of question tags in Business English
A really useful spoken tool.
We use them to confirm things that we know are true, and so by question tags we encourage
our conversational partners to answer us.
They keep a conversation going, they make someone speak to you.
1.2 Summary findings
Theory: writing a summary of findings
organisation and structure are important
The first sentence provides context: introduces the study/topic.
The body presents the key findings, including relevant fractions or percentages.
The last sentence wraps up, states the key takeaways and mentions recommendations, if
applicable.
←1
←2
←3
←4
1= the first sentence
2= first finding of the study/topic
3= the body (fractions or percentages)
4= last sentence
Linking words: however, in addition, while, nevertheless, as a result
use this to make a text easy to read, it gives structure, chronological!!!
Unit 1: Market research methods
1.1 Question tags
= short questions at the end of statements, they are mainly used in speech when we want to:
- confirm that something is true or not
- to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to
They are formed with the verb “to be”, an auxiliary or modal verb from the statement, and
the appropriate subject.
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.
Example: Jack is from Spain, isn’t he?
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
Example: They aren’t funny, are they?
When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with
do/does.
Example: You play the guitar, don’t you?
If the verb is in the past simple, we use did.
Example: They went to the cinema, didn’t they?
When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning the question tag needs to be
positive.
Example: He hardly ever speaks, does he?
They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?
When the original sentence doesn’t have “be”, an auxiliary or a modal, we use a form of do.
Exceptions
Some verbs/expressions have different question tags
Example:
I am I am attractive, aren’t I?
Positive imperative Stop daydreaming, will/won’t you?
Negative imperative Don't stop singing, will you?
Lets Let’s go to the beach, shall we
Have got (possession) He has got a car, hasn’t he?
This/that is This is Paul’s pen, isn’t it?
Statements using barely, hardly, neither, no, nobody, none, nothing and seldom are treated
as negative statements.
Example: Nobody went to the meeting did they?
Nothing is ready is it?
When the original sentence contains “somebody, someone, everybody, everyone”, the tag
uses they and a plural verb.
Example: Everyone knows about the new product already don’t they?
When the original sentence contains something, the tag uses it and a singular verb.
Example: Something is wrong here with the app isn’t it?
, 1.1.1 Intonation and meaning
The intonation of a question tag shows the exact meaning of it. If the intonation of the
question tag goes up, it means you are not sure and you want to know the answer.
John doesn’t speak Spanish, does he?
If the intonation of the question tag goes down, it means you are checking/confirming or
making conversation
Example: John doesn't speak Spanish, does he?
1.1.2 Positive question tag
a negative statement + a positive question tag
1.1.3 Purpose of question tags in Business English
A really useful spoken tool.
We use them to confirm things that we know are true, and so by question tags we encourage
our conversational partners to answer us.
They keep a conversation going, they make someone speak to you.
1.2 Summary findings
Theory: writing a summary of findings
organisation and structure are important
The first sentence provides context: introduces the study/topic.
The body presents the key findings, including relevant fractions or percentages.
The last sentence wraps up, states the key takeaways and mentions recommendations, if
applicable.
←1
←2
←3
←4
1= the first sentence
2= first finding of the study/topic
3= the body (fractions or percentages)
4= last sentence
Linking words: however, in addition, while, nevertheless, as a result
use this to make a text easy to read, it gives structure, chronological!!!
