B2–C1 · GFL · 20 patterns

Questions, tags and ellipsis

Compare how English and German express questions, tags and ellipsis. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Compare how English and German express questions, tags and ellipsis. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Read the frame, try to complete your own sentence before opening an example, then compare the English structure with its German parallel. The point is retrieval and choice, not passive list reading.

02 · Representative patterns

Start with these reusable frames

A compact sample from the 20 patterns in this study set.

01Didn't + subject + bare infinitive phrase?Didn't you receive the updated timetable? · German parallel: Haben/sein + subject + nicht + participle phrase?02Indefinite person pronoun + singular affirmative clause, negative auxiliary + they?Everyone has received a copy, haven't they? · German parallel: Statement about people, oder?03I am + affirmative complement, aren't I?I'm next on the list, aren't I? · German parallel: Ich bin/soll + statement, oder?04Let's + bare infinitive phrase, shall we?Let's check the details once more, shall we? · German parallel: Lass uns / Lasst uns + infinitive, ja?05Affirmative or negative imperative, will you?Keep this between us, will you? · German parallel: Imperative, ja?06Subject + negative-meaning adverb + predicate, affirmative auxiliary + pronoun?She hardly ever complains, does she? · German parallel: Negative-meaning statement, oder?

03 · Complete set

Browse every pattern

The canonical list follows below. Every pattern has a stable ID and its own page for examples, translation, and reuse.

01Didn't + subject + bare infinitive phrase?GFL001 · Didn't + subject + bare infinitive phrase? / Haben/sein + subject + nicht + participle phrase?02Indefinite person pronoun + singular affirmative clause, negative auxiliary + they?GFL002 · Indefinite person pronoun + singular affirmative clause, negative auxiliary + they? / Statement about people, oder?03I am + affirmative complement, aren't I?GFL003 · I am + affirmative complement, aren't I? / Ich bin/soll + statement, oder?04Let's + bare infinitive phrase, shall we?GFL004 · Let's + bare infinitive phrase, shall we? / Lass uns / Lasst uns + infinitive, ja?05Affirmative or negative imperative, will you?GFL005 · Affirmative or negative imperative, will you? / Imperative, ja?06Subject + negative-meaning adverb + predicate, affirmative auxiliary + pronoun?GFL006 · Subject + negative-meaning adverb + predicate, affirmative auxiliary + pronoun? / Negative-meaning statement, oder?07There + affirmative existential clause, matching negative auxiliary + there?GFL007 · There + affirmative existential clause, matching negative auxiliary + there? / Es gibt/gab/müsste geben + statement, oder?08Subject + ordinary predicate + in-situ wh-phrase?GFL008 · Subject + ordinary predicate + in-situ wh-phrase? / Subject + finite verb in second position + ... + wh-phrase + remaining verb parts?09Could you tell me + wh-word/phrase + subject + ordinary predicate?GFL009 · Could you tell me + wh-word/phrase + subject + ordinary predicate? / Könnten Sie mir sagen, wh-word + subordinate clause?10Who/Which + subject noun + tensed predicate?GFL010 · Who/Which + subject noun + tensed predicate? / Wer/Welcher + subject noun + finite predicate?11Wh-object phrase + did + subject + bare infinitive?GFL011 · Wh-object phrase + did + subject + bare infinitive? / Wh-object + finite verb + subject + rest of predicate?12Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb phrase + required preposition?GFL012 · Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb phrase + required preposition? / Preposition + wh-pronoun / wo-compound + finite question?13Affirmative clause, and so + matching auxiliary + second subjectGFL013 · Affirmative clause, and so + matching auxiliary + second subject / Affirmative clause, und + second subject + matching auxiliary + auch 14Negative clause, and neither + matching affirmative auxiliary + second subjectGFL014 · Negative clause, and neither + matching affirmative auxiliary + second subject / Negative clause, und + second subject + auch nicht 15Yes-no question? Subject + think(s) so.GFL015 · Yes-no question? Subject + think(s) so. / Yes-no question? Subject + glauben/denken + schon.16Undesired yes-no possibility? Subject + hope(s) not.GFL016 · Undesired yes-no possibility? Subject + hope(s) not. / Undesired yes-no possibility? Subject + hoffen + nicht.17Previously named action, + do/does/did so + circumstanceGFL017 · Previously named action, + do/does/did so + circumstance / Previously named action + das tun/machen + circumstance 18Known action clause, but + subject + verb selecting infinitive + to.GFL018 · Known action clause, but + subject + verb selecting infinitive + to. / Known action + natural omitted-action or pronominal continuation 19Yes-no question or possibility. If so, + consequence.GFL019 · Yes-no question or possibility. If so, + consequence. / Question or possibility. Falls ja / Wenn ja, + consequence.20Known proposition; if not, + alternative consequenceGFL020 · Known proposition; if not, + alternative consequence / Known proposition; falls nicht, + alternative consequence