QUESTION TAGS
The'standardtag'oftheimperativeis'Willyou',butwecanuse'Won'tyou' too.Thereisperhapsaslightsuggestionthatyoumightbeexpectingthe answertobeno,ifyouusethe'Won'tyou'questiontag.
Byaddingthetagtoanimperative,wearesofteningtheinstructionand turningitintoarequest.Withoutit,itwouldsoundverymuchlikea command,sothetaghasasimilareffecttotheadditionofplease.
Openthewindow,willyou?
Takeaseat,willyou?
Doitnow,willyou?
Openthewindow,won’tyou?
Takeaseat,won’tyou?
Doitnow,won’tyou?
Wecanalsouse…wouldyou?,…couldyou?, ..canyou?,...can’tyou?
Politenessandformalitydependonthechoiceofquestiontagand thetoneofyourvoice,although'can’tyou'cancomeacrossasquite impatientandannoyed.
Closethedoor,wouldyou?
Justwaitaminute, wouldyou?
Shutup,can'tyou?
Openthedoor,couldyou?
Givemeahand,couldyou?
Closethedoor,can'tyou?
Notethatwithnegativeimperativesonlywillispossible
Don'tforgettoposttheletter, willyou?
Don'tstaytherelong, willyou?
Ifwereallywanttosoundpolite,wecanmovethetagtothefront: “Willyougivemeahand?”Insteadof“Givemeahand,willyou?”