Tag Questions: Asking, answering and for Primary 4

Class: Primary Four
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Listening and Speaking
Focal competence: Effectively engaging in dialogues using tag questions
Skills:

• Asking and answering questions

Previous Lesson: In
Topic: Dialogue Using Tag Questions
Subject Matter: Asking, answering and, Asking, answering and using tag questions in dialogue

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify correctly formed tag questions.
• State the purpose of using tag questions in dialogue.

Psychomotor Domain

• Ask and respond to question tags accurately.
• Engage in short dialogues using tag questions.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for Primary 4
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Flash cards with statements
• Course books
• Flannel board

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it equips pupils with a common and natural way to engage in conversations, confirm information, and seek agreement. Mastering tag questions enhances their spoken English fluency and confidence in daily interactions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of sentence structure, auxiliary verbs (e.g., is, are, do, does), and how to ask simple questions.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Dialogue Using Tag Questions

What are Tag Questions?

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a statement. They are used to ask for confirmation or to check if someone agrees with what has been said.

For example:

1. You are ready, aren’t you?
2. This book isn’t yours, is it?

How to Form Tag Questions

Tag questions are formed using an auxiliary verb (like is, are, do, did, have, can, will) and a pronoun (like you, he, she, it, they).

1. Positive statement + Negative tag: If the statement is positive, the tag question is usually negative.

   Examples:

   1. You are a pupil, aren’t you?
   2. She can sing, can’t she?
   3. They like fufu, don’t they?

2. Negative statement + Positive tag: If the statement is negative, the tag question is usually positive.

   Examples:

   1. You aren’t tired, are you?
   2. He isn’t here, is he?
   3. We didn’t go, did we?

Using Tag Questions in Dialogue

When someone asks a tag question, you can respond by agreeing or disagreeing, usually with a short answer.

1. Asking for confirmation:

   Speaker A: It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?

   Speaker B: Yes, it is.

2. Seeking agreement:

   Speaker A: We should leave now, shouldn’t we?

   Speaker B: No, we shouldn’t. Let’s wait a bit.

3. Checking information:

   Speaker A: You live in Abuja, don’t you?

   Speaker B: Yes, I do.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Guided Practice, Pair Work, Role Play

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall how they ask questions to confirm something. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Dialogue Using Tag Questions.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Recalling question formation

Step 2: Explanation of Tag Questions

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what tag questions are, giving simple examples like “You are ready, aren’t you?” and “This book isn’t yours, is it?” The teacher uses flashcards to show statements and their corresponding tag questions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and observe the flashcards, repeating the examples after the teacher.

Learning Point: Meaning of tag questions

Step 3: Forming Tag Questions (Positive Statement)

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils on how to form tag questions for positive statements (positive statement + negative tag). The teacher writes examples on the board and asks pupils to create tags for new positive statements.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice forming tag questions for positive statements, orally and with guidance from the teacher.

Learning Point: Positive statement tags

Step 4: Forming Tag Questions (Negative Statement)

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils on how to form tag questions for negative statements (negative statement + positive tag). The teacher provides examples and encourages pupils to create tags for new negative statements.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice forming tag questions for negative statements, orally and with teacher support.

Learning Point: Negative statement tags

Step 5: Practicing Asking Tag Questions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes several statements on the board and asks individual pupils to add the correct tag question to each statement.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns asking tag questions based on the statements provided by the teacher.

Learning Point: Correct tag question formation

Step 6: Practicing Responding to Tag Questions in Dialogue

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Pair work/Dialogue

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher pairs pupils and provides them with short statements. Pupils practice short paired dialogues, asking and responding to tag questions based on the statements. (e.g., “You like jollof rice, don’t you?” “Yes, I do.”)

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in paired dialogues, practicing asking and answering tag questions correctly.

Learning Point: Dialogue with tag questions

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is a tag question?
2. Add a tag question to this statement: “She is happy.”
3. Add a tag question to this statement: “They aren’t coming.”
4. Give an example of a short dialogue using a tag question.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding tag questions

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes on “Dialogue Using Tag Questions” into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds pupils of the importance of using tag questions correctly in their daily conversations to sound more natural and confident. The teacher commends their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and affirm their understanding.

Learning Point: Reinforcing tag question usage

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the following sentences by adding the correct tag question and a suitable short answer:

1. You are a Primary 4 pupil, ________? Yes, ________.
2. He can swim, ________? No, ________.
3. They don’t like beans, ________? Yes, ________.
4. It is raining, ________? No, ________.
5. She isn’t here, ________? Yes, ________.

Lesson Keywords

• Tag question – a short question added to the end of a statement.
• Dialogue – a conversation between two or more people.
• Confirmation – checking if something is true or correct.
• Auxiliary verb – a helping verb (e.g., is, are, do, did).
• Pronoun – a word that replaces a noun (e.g., he, she, it, they).

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide pre-written statements with missing tag questions for them to fill in. Focus on simple ‘be’ verbs (is, are) first. Use more visual aids like flashcards with clear pictures.

For faster learners: Encourage them to create their own short dialogues using a variety of tag questions. Challenge them to explain the rules for forming tag questions in their own words.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for: “Tag questions for kids Primary 4 English”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare flashcards with various positive and negative statements suitable for Primary 4 pupils. Ensure you have clear examples written on the board or chart paper for easy reference. Begin by reviewing basic sentence structure and auxiliary verbs to ensure pupils have the foundational knowledge. Guide pupils through the formation rules step-by-step, providing plenty of oral practice. During pair work, circulate to monitor and correct errors in real-time, paying attention to both the tag question formation and the appropriate responses. Pupils should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching and practice activities are completed. Conclude by reiterating the practical use of tag questions in everyday communication.