Question tags - Tázací dovětky¶
Basic information¶
We use question tags—more common in speaking than in writing—when we expect the listener to agree with our statement.
In English, tags such as do you (You don't love me anymore, do you?) or isn't she (She is wonderful, isn't she?) are used.
In Czech, tags such as že (probably the most typical one) or viď are used. Unlike in English, they are not grammatically dependent on the sentence they accompany:
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To je staré, že? (It's old, isn't it?)
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On je starý, že? (He's old, isn't he?)
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Oni nejsou staří, že? (They aren't old, are they?)
Intonation
If we are sure that our statement is correct, we use a neutral intonation:
Ty jsi to neudělal, že? (You didn't do it, did you?)
If we are less sure, we use a rising intonation:
Budeš tam zítra, že? (You'll be there tomorrow, won't you?)
Examples¶
| Tag | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| že | To je pěkný dům, že? It is a nice house, isn't it? |
The most typical tag in use. |
| viď | Přijdeš zítra, viď? You'll come tomorrow, won't you? |
Used in informal colloquial Czech. Can carry a tone of uncertainty combined with a wish. |
| co | To je špatné, co? It's bad, isn't it? |
Can carry a tone of higher certainty. May sound aggressive. |
| ne | Ty tomu rozumíš, ne? You understand it, don't you? |
The main clause must be affirmative (not negated). |
| že ano že jo |
Ty tomu rozumíš, že ano? You understand it, don't you? |
The tag že jo is colloquial. |
| že ne | Nepůjdeš tam, že ne? You won't go there, will you? |
The main clause must contain a negated verb. |
The following tags are used to check that the information was understood or to confirm agreement about an action:
| Tag | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ok okay |
Půjdeme tam zítra, ok? We'll go there tomorrow, okay? |
A widely used anglicism. |
| fajn | Zavolám ti zítra, fajn? I'll call you tomorrow, okay? |
- |
| jo | Můžu tam jít, jo? I can go there, right? |
- |
| hm | Já to koupím, hm? I'll buy it, eh? |
More of an interjection. |
| dobře | Já to udělám, dobře? I'll do it, alright? |
- |
| jasný | Uděláme to tak, jasný? Let's do it this way, okay? |
lit. is that clear? |
We can also use more complex structures—independent clauses, in fact—as question tags, because they serve a similar purpose.
| Tag | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| co myslíš | To je pěkné, co myslíš? It's nice, isn't it? |
lit. what do you think? |
| co myslíte | To je zajímavé, co myslíte? It's interesting, isn't it? |
Used when addressing someone formally or a group (2nd person plural). |
| co říkáš co říkáte |
To je zajímavý nápad, co říkáš? That's an interesting idea, isn't it? |
lit. what do you say? |
| co ty/vy na to | Šel bych dnes rád do kina, co ty na to? I'd like to to the movies today, what do you think? |
Elliptical construction, lit. what do you (say) about it? |
| je to tak | Vy jste pan Novák, je to tak? You're Mr. Novak, aren't you? |
lit. is that so? |
| není-liž pravda | To je zvláštní, není-liž pravda? It's odd, isn't it? |
Bookish; lit. isn't it true? |
"Shall we"¶
There is no direct Czech equivalent of the English tag shall we (Let's begin, shall we?).
We can use:
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An imperative 1 with a question tag such as dobře or fajn:
Začněme, dobře?
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A clause with the modal verb 2 moct:
Můžeme začít?
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See Imperative mood for more details. ↩
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See Modal verbs for more details. ↩