Talking about weather – questions tags

Talking about weather – questions tags

by | Nov 27, 2022 | Everyday English

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Talking about weather – questions tags
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CEF B1

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Intermediate

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Answer the questions below.

Do your colleagues or friends like talking about the weather?
TRANSCRIPT

Yes, they really do. I think it’s a popular topic because it’s safe and everyone has something to say about it. For example, when we meet in the morning at the office, someone usually says, “It’s freezing today, isn’t it?” or “What a beautiful day, isn’t it?” It’s an easy way to start a conversation or to fill a silence. And in Poland, where the weather changes so often, there’s always something to comment on!

What is your best weather like?
TRANSCRIPT

My favourite kind of weather is sunny but not too hot—something like 22 or 23 degrees with a bit of a breeze. I really enjoy this type of weather because I can go for a walk, ride my bike, or just sit outside with a coffee. I don’t like when it’s very humid or windy. For me, perfect weather means feeling comfortable and relaxed, without sweating or freezing. It makes the day more enjoyable, doesn’t it?

Do you mind what the weather forecast says when you are planning a holiday?
TRANSCRIPT

Yes, I usually do check the weather forecast before booking a holiday. If I’m going to the seaside or planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, I want to make sure it won’t rain all the time. Of course, weather forecasts are not always 100% correct, but they help me decide what clothes to pack and what kind of activities I can plan. If the weather looks really bad, I sometimes choose a different destination or change the dates. It’s better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it?

part one

question tags

Weather is a very safe topic to start a conversation with. There is one strategy that makes such conversations sound very natural and native-like – it’s the use of Question Tags. 

Study the notes about question tags below. 

‘Question tags’ (also called ‘tag questions’) are the small questions that often come at the ends of sentences in speech, and sometimes in informal writing.

  • The film wasn’t very good, was it?

Negatives are usually contracted. Full forms are possible in formal speech.

  • That’s the doorbell, isn’t it?
  • You take sugar in tea, don’t you?
  • They promised to repay us within six months, did they not? (formal)

Question tags can be used to check whether something is true, or to ask for agreement.

Question tags are used after affirmative and negative sentences, but not after questions.

  • You’re the new secretary, aren’t you?
  • You’re not the new secretary, are you?

(but not Are you the new secretary, aren’t you?)

To check information or ask for agreement, we most often put negative tags after affirmative sentences, and non-negative tags after negative sentences.

In speech, we can show the exact meaning of a question tag by the intonation. If the tag is a real question – if we really want to know something and are not sure of the answer – we use a rising intonation: the voice goes up.

If the tag is not a real question – if we are sure of the answer – we use a falling intonation: the voice goes down.

In writing, the exact meaning of a question tag is normally clear from the context.

lucy explains question tags

Watch Lucy explain how to use Question Tags. Pay attention to how she explains the differences in intonation and special cases. 

part two

Complete these five dialogues with the correct question tag. 

Get more than 70% and you will receive a beautiful certificate. 

Dialogue one

A: Good morning! It’s another lovely day, ?
B: It certainly is. It wasn’t as warm as this yesterday, ?
A: No it wasn’t. It poured cats and dogs yesterday evening, ?
B: Yes, it did. The sunshine, though, makes you feel very good, ?
A: You are absolutely right.

Dialogue two

A: Gosh. It’s absolutely scorching, ?
B: Yeah. The heat is simply unbearable, ?
A: That’s true. I hate when it gets so sultry, ?
B: Yeah, I do. Your shirt just sticks to your body, ?
A: If only the wind blew, the air wouldn’t be so stale, ?
B: I’m afraid the forecast says it will only get hotter, ?
A: I’m afraid it does.

Dialogue three

A: Good morning! It’s rather chilly today, ?
B: Yeah, And the sky is overcast. It hasn’t been as cold as this for ages, ?
A: That’s true. We’ve had some lovely weather recently, ?
B: Mm. Ah, well. Mustn’t complain, ?

Dialogue four

A: It looks as if we are going to have a shower from that cloud, ?
B: Actually, I hope it does rain. We could do with a little drizzle, ?
A: Yeah. I believe you’re right. Last few days were really sweltering, ?
B: They certainly were. The lawn is begging for some water, ?
A: True. It gets pretty expensive to water the grass in the summer, ?
B: It does. That’s why I’m looking forward to some rain, actually.

Dialogue five

A: Look, the sky is clearing up, ?
B: Yeah, it definitely looks like it. The clouds are dissipating, ?
A: Yes, they are. I hope it dries before we go out of the office, ?
B: Yeah, I do. I only have flip-flops today. The forecast didn’t say it might rain, ?
A: No, they said there will be sunny intervals, ?
B: Oh well, one shouldn’t believe these weathermen so gullibly.

The dialogues above contained some interesting words and expressions about the weather. 

Play this Quizlet game and learn the meaning of these expressions. 

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DISCUSSION

project update

Read (role-play) this dialogue. 

Some friends are discussing the weather after coming to work on Monday.

Monday Morning at Work 

Anna:
Morning, everyone! Lovely weather over the weekend, wasn’t it?

Tomek:
Oh yes, just perfect… if you enjoy grey skies and nonstop rain!

Magda:
I know! It always rains on the weekend in Poland, doesn’t it?

Anna:
It really does. The moment Friday evening comes, the clouds show up, don’t they?

Tomek:
Exactly! I planned to go cycling, but I stayed home watching TV all day. Not very active, was it?

Magda:
No, it wasn’t. I tried to take a walk on Sunday, but I gave up after five minutes. The wind was awful, wasn’t it?

Anna:
At least it’s sunny now… just when we’re stuck in the office. Typical!

Tomek:
That’s the rule here: good weather from Monday to Friday, and rain on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?

Magda:
Maybe we should start having weekends on Wednesdays. That would solve the problem, wouldn’t it?

Anna:
Great idea! But the weather would probably change too, just to annoy us.

Tomek:
Well, at least we can talk about the weather—it never gets boring, does it?

(They all laugh.)

OVER TO YOU 

Discuss these questions. Find ways to use the language you were learning in this lesson.

BulletWhat kind of weather makes you feel the happiest, and why?
BulletDo you prefer hot summer days or cold winter days? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
BulletHow does the weather affect your daily routine or your energy levels?
BulletIf you could live in any climate in the world, what would it be like? Why?
BulletDo you enjoy extreme weather like storms or snow? Why or why not?