1.4.1.Tag Questions

Do you know what tag questions are? Look at the following sentences, and try to see how the questions are developed.

Examples:

1. We like playing football, don’t we?
2. It is never too late to learn, is it?

What did you observe in these sentences? The parts of the sentences ‘don’t we?’ and ‘is it? are tag questions. Guess how they are formed.

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a statement to confirm information, check understanding, or encourage a response from the listener. They usually consist of an auxiliary verb (like “is,” “do,” “have,” “will”) or a modal verb (like “can,” “should”) followed by a pronoun that matches the subject of the statement.

Structure of Tag Questions:

1. Positive statement, negative tag: If the statement is positive, the tag is usually negative.
   • Example: You like pizza, don’t you?
2. Negative statement, positive tag: If the statement is negative, the tag is usually positive.
   • Example: She isn’t coming, is she?

Common Uses of Tag Questions:

• Confirmation: To confirm information that the speaker believes to be true.
  • Example: It’s raining outside, isn’t it?
• Agreement or Disagreement: To seek agreement or invite a response.
  • Example: You agree with me, don’t you?
• Softening Statements: To make requests or statements less direct.
  • Example: You could help me, couldn’t you?

Intonation in Tag Questions:

• If the speaker is genuinely uncertain or asking for confirmation, the intonation usually rises at the end.
• If the speaker is confident and expects agreement, the intonation typically falls.

Tag questions are useful tools for engaging listeners, verifying information, and maintaining polite communication in English.

Activity 1.12 Give tag questions for the following statements.

1. You’re coming to the party, ______________?
2. She finished her homework, _____________?
3. It’s a beautiful day, _______________?
4. They won’t be late, _______________?
5. You’ve seen that movie before, _______________?
6. He can’t swim, ___________?
7. We should go now, ______________?
8. The meeting starts at 3, _______________?

Here are the answers for the above questions.

1. aren’t you
2. didn’t she
3. isn’t it
4. will they
5. haven’t you
6. can he
7. shouldn’t we
8. doesn’t it

Activity 1.13.Complete the missing parts of the statements by adding tag questions.

1. I am your student,___________?
2. She’s coming with us, _____________?
3. They haven’t arrived yet,________________?
4. You can speak French,________________?
5. We were supposed to meet at noon, ______________?
6. He should apologize, ____________?
7. The package was delivered, _____________?
8. You wouldn’t mind helping me, _______________?

Here are the answers for the above questions.

1. aren’t I
2. isn’t she
3. have they
4. can’t you
5. weren’t we
6. shouldn’t he
7. wasn’t it
8. would you

Activity 1.16.Supply the correct simple present forms of the verbs in parentheses

Belaynesh and Yohannes (1) ______ (live) in a big city. Belaynesh (2) ______ (work) as a teacher, and Yohannes (3) ______ (be) a software engineer. Every morning, Belaynesh (4) ______ (leave) the house at 7:00 a.m., while Yohannes (5) ______ (start) work at 8:00 a.m. They (6) ______ (not, have) children, but they (7) ______ (own) a dog named Max. Belaynesh (8) ______ (take) Max for a walk every evening after work, and Yohannes (9) ______ (cook) dinner. On weekends, they (10) ______ (like) to go hiking. Yohannes (11) ______ (enjoy) nature, and Belaynesh (12) ______ (take) photos. They (13) ______ (have) dinner together every night at 7:00 p.m., and after dinner, they (14) ______ (watch) TV or (15) ______ (read) books.

Answer Key for Activity1.16:

1. live 2. works 3. is 4.leaves 5. starts 6. do not have / don’t have 7. own 8. takes 9.cooks 10. like 11. enjoys 12. takes 13. have 14. watch 15. read

1.4.3.The Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is formed by combining the helping verbs “is,” “am,” and “are” with the -ing form of the main verb. These helping verbs indicate who is performing the action.

• “Is” is used with singular subjects (e.g., he, she, it).
• “Are” is used with plural subjects (e.g., we, they) or the pronoun “you.”
• “Am” is used only with the subject “I.”

Below, you’ll find examples in a table that show how the positive, negative, and question forms of the present continuous tense are structured. Study the examples closely, and in groups, discuss how these forms are created and used in everyday situations.

Subjects	Positive forms	Negative forms	Question forms
Singular	He is playing football.	He is not(isn’t) playing football	Is (Isn’t) he playing football?
	She is studying every night	You are not (aren’t) studying every night.	Are (Aren’t) you studying every night?
	The student is going to school every day.	She is not (isn’t) going to school every day.	Is (Isn’t) the student going to school every day?
I	I am playing football	I am not (amn’t) playing football.	Am (Amn’t) I playing football?
	You are studying every night.	You are not (aren’t) studying every night.	Are (Aren’t) you studying every night?
	They are going to school every day.	They are not (aren’t) going to school every day.	Are (Aren’t) you going to school every day?
	We are playing football.	We are not (aren’t) playing football.	Are (Aren’t) we playing football?
	The students are playing football.	The students are not (aren’t) playing football.	Are (Aren’t) the students playing football?
	Abel is playing foot ball now.	Abel is not playing foot ball now	Is(Isn’t)Abel playing foot ball?
	Selam and Sara are playing foot ball.	Selam and Sara are not playing foot ball.	Are(Aren’t)Selam and Sara playing foot ball?

Activity 1.14.Read  the  following  dialogue and  underline the  present continuous forms of the verbs

Dialogue: On the Telephone

Mohammed:       Hello, can I speak to Zeleke?                     .

Zeleke:     This is Zeleke, who is speaking?.

Mohammed:  Hi, this is Mohammed 

Zeleke:    Hi, Mohammed! What are you doing?

Mohammed:    Well, I’m cooking dinner.

Zeleke:             What are you cooking?

Mohammed:    I’m baking some potatoes, and boiling some carrots.

Zeleke:            It sounds delicious.

Mohammed:    What are you doing for dinner tonight?

Zeleke:            Well, I don’t have any plans, Mohammed.                          

Mohammed:    Would you like to come over for dinner?

Zeleke: Oh, I’d love to. Thanks

Mohammed: Great. Zeineba and Mulat are also coming. They are arriving at seven.

Zeleke:  Ok, I’ll be there at seven, too.

Mohammed: Ok, see you then. Bye.

Zeleke:           Bye.

Activity 1.19 Select the appropriate word from the given list and complete the sentences using present continuous tense used to express future action.

take

start

leave

go

do

depart

get

come

Weekend Plans A: Have you heard about James and Emily? B: James and Emily? What’s happening with them? A: They __________ (1) to New York this weekend for a surprise trip. B: No way! When ___________ (2) they _____________ (2)? A: They _____________ (3) on Friday evening. Didn’t you know? B: Oh, right. But what time ___________ (4) their flight ______________ (4)? A: Their flight ____________ (5) at 7:00 p.m. from the main airport. B: ________ (6) you _____________ (6) with them? A: No, I’m not. I have work. But I ________________ (7) them tomorrow to help them pack and organize. B: That’s nice of you. By the way, ______________ (8) you _____________ (8) anything after that? Maybe we could grab lunch. A: Sure! I _____________ (9) to the new café around noon. Want to join me? B: Absolutely. I’ll see you there. Answer Key for Activity 1.19 1. are going 2.are they leaving 3. are leaving 4. is departing 5. is departing 6. are you coming 7. are you doing am going

1.4.4.Question Types Topic The Why Questions

The why-questions are formed by using who, what, where, why, when, which, and how. Learn how the questions are formed from the following examples.

Examples

1. What is your favorite book?
   1. My favorite book is Fikir Eske Mekabir.
2. Where do you live?
   1. I live in Merawi.
3. Which one do you like more, living in urban areas or in rural areas?
   1. I like to live in urban areas.
   1. I like to live in rural areas.
4. Why do you like to live in rural areas?
   1. I like to live in rural areas because I help my parents in farming in the winter.
5. What advantages do you get living in urban areas?
   1. In urban areas, I can get access to read books in libraries.

Activity 1.20 Answer the following questions.

1. What are you doing this weekend?
2. Where is the train departing from tomorrow morning?
3. Who is coming to the meeting later today?
4. When are you leaving for your trip?
5. Why are they taking the bus instead of driving?
6. How is the project going so far?
7. Which movie are we watching tonight?

Yes/No questions

The ‘yes/no’ questions are formed by using the ‘do verbs’ (do, does, did), ‘have verbs’ (has, have, had), and modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, ought to, etc.).

Examples

1. Do you like animals?
   1. Yes, I do.
   1. No, I don’t
2. Can you bring me your marker tomorrow?
   1. Yes, I can.
   1. No, I cannot (can’t).
3. Is there a book on your table?
   1. Yes, there is.
   1. No, there isn’t.
4. Are there two pens on the table?
   1. Yes, there are.

No there aren’t

Activity 1.21 Give answers to the following

questions.

1. Do you like your English lessons?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
2. Do you have a garden?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
3. Are there big buildings in urban areas?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
4. Is the number of schools in urban areas more than those in rural areas?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
5. Does a student in a rural area score equal to the one who is in urban area in school leaving examination?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
6. Has the teacher given you a reading activity?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
7. Must you call him again?
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                      .
   1.                                                       .
   1.                                                       .
   1.                                                       .
   1.                                                       .
   1.                                                       .