A question tag is a short question at the end of a sentence. We use it to check information or to start a conversation. The rule: positive sentence → negative tag; negative sentence → positive tag. You like music, don’t you? She isn’t late, is she?

The tag uses the same auxiliary verb as the sentence: It is cold, isn’t it? You can swim, can’t you? He went home, didn’t he? With present simple: do / does. With past simple: did. With I am: aren’t I?

If your voice goes UP on the tag, it is a real question: You haven’t got a pen, have you? (I don’t know.) If your voice goes DOWN, it is not really a question; you are sure and want agreement: Nice day, isn’t it? (I think you agree.)

Useful replies: Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t. / Yes, I do. / No, I don’t. Say the short answer fully and clearly.

Past tense: I went to a big school. My teacher was strict. We had six lessons a day. I used to love history. Present: I study every day. I’m learning to… Useful phrases: at primary school, at secondary school, at university, to pass an exam, to fail an exam, to take notes, to revise.

Opinions: In my opinion, school should… I think teachers need… It’s important to learn…

• What was your favourite subject?
• Did you like school?
• Who was your best teacher?
• Did you have a lot of homework?
• Did you go to university?
• Do you have a degree?
• Did you have good classmates?
• Did you walk to school?
• Did you eat at school?
• What time did school start?
• Do you still see your classmates?
• Do you like learning new things?

• Describe your school.
• Tell me about your best teacher.
• What did you learn at school that you still use?
• Describe a typical school day when you were young.
• Tell me about an exam that you remember.
• What was your favourite lesson?
• Who helped you learn the most?
• What was your hardest subject?
• What do you remember about your first day at school?
• How did you spend break time?
• What sounds do you remember from your school?
• How did you feel before an exam?

• What is the purpose of school?
• How could school be better?
• Should every child have the right to a good education?
• How can schools be friendly for every kind of learner?
• Is homework useful? Why or why not?
• Is learning at school the same as learning in life?
• What makes a good teacher?
• If you could change one thing about education, what would it be?

• It was a long day, wasn’t it?
• You liked maths, didn’t you?
• You don’t like exams, do you?
• He’s a good teacher, isn’t he?
• You went to a big school, didn’t you?
• She passed the exam, didn’t she?
• We’re ready, aren’t we?
• You can swim, can’t you?
• You haven’t finished, have you?
• It’s a good school, isn’t it?
• You study every day, don’t you?
• They’re your classmates, aren’t they?

• Do you think school is the best time of life?
• Would you rather study at home or at school?
• What if there were no exams?
• Is it important to go to university?
• Which is better: learning from books or from experience?
• Do you think teachers are paid enough?
• Would you like to be a teacher?
• What advice would you give to someone starting school?

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