Echo Questions Vs. Question Tags

Echo Questions Vs. Question Tags

ECHO QUESTIONS 

We use echo questions to show interest or surprise. For this purpose, the listener makes a short question using the auxiliary verb of the statement the speaker has just said.  

EXAMPLES:

 

- They are visiting relatives at this moment.

Are they?

- Jane bought a sports car last week.

Did she?

- I live in London’s city centre.

Do you?

- Richard has got an iPhone.

Has he?  

QUESTION TAGS  

These short questions are used to check information. We use a positive statement followed by a negative tag when we expect a positive answer: YES.  

We use a negative statement followed by a positive tag when we expect a negative answer: NO. 

EXAMPLES: 

- He told you he was married, didn’t he?

- The weather will improve tomorrow, won't it?

- He can't drive a lorry, can he?

- They are vegetarians, aren’t they?

- She cooks well, doesn't she?

- You live near here, don’t you?