Question tags

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

Test No. [color=blue]incompl/elem-36 “Question Tags (2)”, question 3

Sarah: ‘I’ve torn up your homework essay!’
Paul: ‘…’

(a) That’ll be nice, will it?
(b) That’s nice, is it?
(c) That would be nice, wouldn’t it?
(d) That’s nice, isn’t it?

Test No. [color=blue]incompl/elem-36 “Question Tags (2)”, answer 3

Sarah: ‘I’ve torn up your homework essay!’
Paul: ‘That’s nice, isn’t it?’

Correct answer: (d) That’s nice, isn’t it?

Your answer was: [color=green]correct
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

what’s “torn up”?

2

what are these structures called? :?:

3

Hi Richard,

Those are [color=blue]question tags.
For more information on question tags please take a look here:
english-test.net/forum/ftopic696.html[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC short conversations: A bank customer is withdrawing cash from his account[YSaerTTEW443543]

4

torn up means destroyed. I believe the persons response is a sarcastic one

5

I gocha now… :lol: :o

6

If it is a sarcastic one, shouldn’t it be both positive?

7

Sarah: ‘I’ve torn up your homework essay!’
Paul: ‘…’

(a) That’ll be nice, will it?
(b) That’s nice, is it?
© That would be nice, wouldn’t it?
(d) That’s nice, isn’t it?
It still confuse me.why " (b) That’s nice, is it?" is not the answer?

8

That’s nice is not the answer because a positive statement is followed by a negative question tag and vice versa.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: A doctor’s surgery[YSaerTTEW443543]

9

I still don’t get it!!
In the previous quiz:
Sarah: ‘You’re being very rude!’
Paul: ‘Oh I am, am I?’

Correct answer: © Oh I am, am I?

They are both positive statement.

10

I guess that the difference between the above examples comes from the fact that the roles are switched - who is being rough and the victim.
First example -> the rough person initiates a fight, the second person replies as defence.
Second example -> the first person is the victim, the second one’s reply is sarcastic so he is initiating a fight again.
I would be glad to be corrected if I am wrong!

11

I’m agree with Stanstst, I also think that is a matter of roles. The second response seems sarcastic, because it couldn’t be a nice thing to have your essay destroyed. Or it could means that the essay is not very important to the owner. I hope I got it.

12

Dear Torsten,
You explained it exactly, but why cannot use answer ‘b’ for this test therefore our purpose is sarcastic?

13

Hi,

Don’t you think that if the answer was sarcastic then the right answer will be “That’s nice, is it?”? Please explain this to me!
Thank you!

14

Hello Mitra and Margoto,

I agree with you that using that phrase if you meant your answer to be sarcastic would certainly be acceptable.
Maybe examiners don’t understand sarcasm?

15

Hi
Why is letter c incorrect? I mean that woud be nice,wouldn’t it

Many thanks

16

How do you work out that someone tearing up your homework would be a nice thing to do?

17

In my opinion the quality of essays still remain, so the simple present tense should be used for answering.

18

Hi Saman, we are talking about one essay, not several ones and it has been destroyed.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Transporting boxes[YSaerTTEW443543]