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Question tags: 1

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Question tags

Worksheets - pdf exercises.

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Grammar lessons / rules

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Question Tags – Free Exercise

Add the question tags.

• You want to go on holiday,   ? If there is no helping verb, we use do in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• Charles will help us,   ? If there is a helping verb, we use this same verb in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag. (will not = won’t) .
• Mary has a little lamb,   ? If have is used to indicate possession/belonging, we can use have or the helping verb do in British English (in American English we can only use do in this case). For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• You are the new student,   ? If the sentence has a form of be without a helping verb, we don’t need a helping verb: we use this same form of be in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• They have cleaned the windows,   ? If there is a helping verb, we use this same verb in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• Their parents are divorced,   ? If there is a helping verb, we use this same verb in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• The door has been locked,   ? If there is a helping verb, we use this same verb in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• You speak English,   ? If there is no helping verb, we use do in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• He moved abroad,   ? If there is no helping verb, we use do in the question tag (since we’re talking about a past event, we use did ). For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.
• You were there,   ? If the sentence has a form of be without a helping verb, we don’t need a helping verb: we use this same form of be in the question tag. For positive sentences, we use the negative question tag.

Write in the Question Tags.

• I don’t have to go there,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• You did not tell him a lie,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• They are not watching TV right now,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• It will not rain tomorrow,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• She is not going home yet,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• He would not do this,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• I won’t see you again,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• We have not been here before,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• She wasn’t surprised,   ? For the negation of be, we don’t need a helping verb. We simply use this same form of be in the question tag, but in its positive form.
• We cannot do this together,   ? We use the helping verb from the negation in the question tag, but in its positive form.

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Question Tag Examples And Exercises

Learning how to form question tags is not particularly difficult for English language learners. Rather, the challenge for students is using question tags naturally. For this reason, students need lots and lots of practice forming question tags. Below, you’ll find 30 question tag examples along with some question tag exercises so that you/your students will be able to use question tags fluently in no time.

Question Tag Examples

Question tag exercises, exercise 1: quiz, choose the correct question tag., exercise 2: pdf worksheet.

This next question tag exercise is a printable PDF worksheet. There are 10 questions and answers and each question asks you to fill in the blank with the appropriate question tag. This PDF also includes the answers on a separate page.

Question tags – Exercise 3

Task no. 1407.

Put in the correct question tags.

Peter works in the shop,   ?

Peter works in the shop, doesn't he ?

Do you need help?

Question tags in English

• She is collecting stickers, ?
• We often watch TV in the afternoon, ?
• You have cleaned your bike, ?
• John and Max don't like maths, ?
• Peter played handball yesterday, ?
• They are going home from school, ?
• Mary didn't do her homework last Monday, ?
• He could have bought a new car, ?
• Kevin will come tonight, ?
• I'm clever, ?
• You are here:
• Grammar Exercises

Question Tags In English Grammar

Table of contents, introduction, what are tag questions, why are tag questions used, used to confirm or clarify information:, used to seek agreement:, used to express emotions or attitudes:, used to soften a request:, used in leading questions, particularly in legal settings, how are question tags formed, question tag rule:.

Here are two examples for illustration:

Forms of tag questions

Question tags with affirmative statements.

Question tags with negative statements

Question tags with imperatives

Note: there are instances where we can also use “would,” “could,” “can,” or “won’t.” This depends mainly on the intended meaning and the context.

Examples of question tags

How do you punctuate question tags?

Home » Grammar » Question Tags

• Question Tags

Question Tags Rules, Forms, Exceptions, and Examples

Also known as Tag Questions , question tags are short questions added to the end of a sentence or statement. We use it to seek confirmation, clarification, agreement, or a response from the listener.

The question tag usually mirrors the verb in the statement.

• If the statement is positive , the tag is negative .
• If the statement is negative , the tag is positive .

Positive Statement + Negative Tag

• He is an engineer, isn’t he?
• She is a doctor, isn’t she?
• It is a beautiful day, isn’t it?
• They are coming to the party, aren’t they?
• You are my neighbor, aren’t you?
• She is Pamela’s mother, isn’t she?
• He is coming to the party, isn’t he?
• The bus stop is over here, isn’t it?
• He can swim, can’t he?
• You can play soccer, can’t you?
• We should leave now, shouldn’t we?
• They can help us, can’t they?
• They were impressed by the sale, weren’t they?
• They could hear me, couldn’t they?

Positive statements without the auxiliary verb, we use don’t, doesn’t or didn’t

• They arrived on time, didn’t they?
• He speaks English, doesn’t he?
• They like the new idea, don’t they?
• I said that already, didn’t I?
• He always gives a good impression, doesn’t he?
• Mark likes cheese, doesn’t he?
• This will work, won’t it?

Negative Statement + Positive Tag:

• He isn’t here, is he?
• Mary isn’t working on that, is she?
• Your father doesn’t like to have fun, does he?
• You haven’t been there, have you?
• You have finished your homework, haven’t you?
• We haven’t had so many people coming before, have we?
• He just can’t get this presentation right, can he?
• You didn’t see the movie, did you?
• I don’t have to finish it this week, do I?
• They won’t mind, will they?
• She won’t mind that, will she?
• He won’t forget, will he?
• This will not work, will it?
• You won’t mind if I borrow your pen, will you?
• This situation isn’t getting any better, is it?
• There is nothing wrong with it, is there?

Pay very close attention to the tense of the auxiliary verb in the phrase or statement when forming the question tag.

If there is no auxiliary verb , use “do” or “does” for the present simple and “did” for the past simple.

Imperative Sentences

For imperative sentences, the question tag is “will you?” or “won’t you?” :

• Open the window, will you?
• Close the door, will you?
• Take a sit, won’t you?

If we use I am in the statement:

Positive the tag is “am”

• I’m not being too personal, am I?
• I’m not the right person for the job, am I?
• I am never late, am I?

Negative the tag is “aren’t”

• I’m really smart, aren’t I?
• I’m on time, aren’t I?
• I’m intelligent, aren’t I?

Statements with Negative Adverbs

We have a negative sense when we use the adverbs rarely , hardly , seldom , and never . Therefore the question tag is usually positive:

• She rarely attends meeting on time, does she?
• We have never seen that movie, have we?
• You hardly ever forget your keys, do you?

Let’s (Let us)

When “let’s” is used, the question tag is “shall we?”

• Let’s go, shall we?
• Let’s dance, shall we?
• Let’s not talk about his subject, shall we?

Question tags can be used for a variety of purposes, such as seeking confirmation, emphasizing a point, or asking for a response. Understanding how they are formed and used improves communication and reassures grammatical accuracy.

Statements with Everything, Something and Nothing as a subject

We use “it” in the question tag

• Something happened to her, didn’t it?
• Nothing is wrong, is it?

Now test your knowledge with these exercises!

Study Also :

• IN – ON – AT
• Modal Verbs
• Adverbs of Frequency
• Phrasal Verbs
• Parts of Speech
• Verb Tenses
• Irregular Verbs
• Other, the other and Another
• Common Mistakes
• Confusing Words

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Tag Questions

Perfect english grammar.

Tag questions (or question tags) turn a statement into a question. They are often used for checking information that we think we know is true.

Tag questions are made using an auxiliary verb (for example: be or have ) and a subject pronoun (for example: I, you, she ). Negative question tags are usually contracted: It's warm today, isn't it (not 'is it not')

Usually if the main clause is positive , the question tag is negative , and if the main clause is negative , it's positive . For example: It's cold (positive), isn't it (negative)? And: It isn't cold (negative), is it (positive)?

If the main clause has an auxiliary verb in it, you use the same verb in the tag question. If there is no auxiliary verb (in the present simple and past simple) use do / does / did (just like when you make a normal question).

There is one weird exception: the question tag after I am is aren't I . For example: I'm in charge of the food, aren't I?

Postive sentences, with negative tags

Negative sentences, with positive tags

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Question Tags Basic Rules

Question tags – basic rules , grammar and examples.

In this complete tutorial for beginners, learners are going to learn “Question tags” and we’re going to look at the basic rules of question tags. The learners will be able to determine the meaning and the basic rules of the Question Tags with the help of examples and correct use of grammar. So, let’s start.

Watch the video here first for more convenient on your part.

Let’s look at three examples of question tags to determine their rules:

You’re going to Spain tomorrow, aren’t you?

Meaning and use of question tags

1 . to check if something is true or not .

Example: The conference is at 8 o’clock, isn’t it?

2. to ask for agreement

For an affirmative sentence , we use a negative question tag.

Examples of Question Tags:   

For a negative sentence, we use the affirmative question tag .

When NOT to use question tags

Another Question Tags Example:

Weren’t they doing their homework , were they?

Form rule 2 – “ be” as a main verb

John is kind, isn’t he?

He isn’t from Spain, is he?

If the sentence has no auxiliary verb and is in the present simple , the question tag uses “ do ”:

Pat likes to sing, doesn’t he?        

Helen doesn’t play the piano, does she?

That’s the end of this lesson hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any questions regarding the correct use of question tags, feel free to send your comments below and we’re happy to reply back.

Downloadable Material

For more readings.

If you have any questions or suggestions about  Question Tags: Basic Rules,  please feel free to leave a comment below or send us a message using our contact page.

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are you?; is he (question tags)

Question tags, (rules for using question tags in english), table of contents – question tags, what are question tags.

In general, question tags (also called tag questions or question tails ) are used to elicit confirmation or affirmation for a statement from the person one is talking to. This grammatical feature can sometimes provoke problems (especially for learners of English as a foreign language) as the question tag always has to be adapted to the previous part of the statement. This means it has to be grammatically in accordance with it. It can be different in other languages when only generic question tags are used. Compare the following:

Examples in English

Examples in other languages

How are question tags used.

Question tags always appear at the end of the sentence and refer to the verb used in the clause before as well as the subject (which is a noun or a personal pronoun in most cases) of the corresponding statement. Basically, the following rule applies: In positive sentences a negative question tag is needed and in negative ones a positive . However, there may be other combinations depending on meaning and pronunciation. Be aware that question tags are only common in spoken language.

How are question tags formed in a sentence?

Further explanations related to ‘tag questions’.

The following exercises and explanations relate to the topic ‘ rules for using question tags in English’ and could also be interesting:

Home of English Grammar

Question Tags Quiz

Add appropriate questions to the following sentences.

1. Give me a hand, ....................................?

2. there are some problems, ................................

Negative tags are used after affirmative sentences and non-negative tags are used after negative sentences.

3. Not a great film, .............................?

4. you do take sugar in tea, ................................

In question tags we repeat the auxiliary verb used in the main sentence. Negative tags are used after affirmative sentences and non-negative tags are used after negative sentences.

5. They don't have meetings on Sundays, ...............................?

6. they won the first prize, ................................

If the main sentence has no auxiliary, the question tag uses do, does or did. Do and does are used in the present tense. Did is used in the past tense.

7. She recognized him at once, ................................?

8. you wouldn't like a puppy, ................................, 9. they promised to repay the money within two months, ..............................., 10. she wants to be an architect, ........................................

When the main sentence is in the simple present tense, we use do or does in the question tag. Do is used with plural nouns and pronouns. Does is used with singular nouns and pronouns.

11. You like fish, ...................................?

We use do with plural nouns and the pronouns I, we and you. We use does with singular nouns and the pronouns she, he and it.

12. The meeting started at 6, ..................................?

Only pronouns are used in tags.

1. Give me a hand, will you / can’t you / could you? 2. There are some problems, aren’t there? 3. Not a great film, was it? 4. You do take sugar in tea, don’t you? 5. They don’t have meetings on Sundays, do they? 6. They won the first prize, didn’t they? 7. She recognized him at once, didn’t she? 8. You wouldn’t like a puppy, would you? 9. They promised to repay the money within two months, didn’t they? 10. she wants to be an architect, doesn’t she? 11. You like fish, don’t you? 12. The meeting started at 6, didn’t it?

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Tag Questions Exercises (With Printable PDF)

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| Grammar , Quizzes

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

You already know what tag questions are, don’t you? Tag questions are short questions added at the end of statements.

Try these three worksheets about tag questions. The exercises will require you to recall tag question rules, complete the tag question, and respond to tag questions.

What’s a Tag Question?

A tag question is a brief question that comes after a declarative sentence to ask for confirmation. These tag questions often mean, “Am I right?” or “Do you agree with me?”

A tag question always has any of the following constructions:

• Positive statement + comma + negative tag question
• Negative statement + comma + positive tag question

For example:

• The grass is green, isn’t it?
• The sky isn’t gray, is it?

Notice how the tag questions always repeat the auxiliary verb and the pronoun that replaces the subject. Below are more examples.

• We have finished, haven’t we?
• The sun is up, isn’t it?
• I am happy, am I not?
• My parents will come, won’t they?
• My sister should not cry, should she?

Some sentences do not have linking or auxiliary verbs. So, we use do as the verb for tag questions. For example:

• You like coffee, don’t you?
• We finished our homework, didn’t we?

To answer a tag question, say yes or no, then reverse the tag question. For example:

• You like mathematics, don’t you?

Tag Question Exercise #1

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

Tag Question Exercise #2

Complete the sentence with the correct tag questions.

Tag Question Exercise #3

Choose the right response to the following tag questions.

Practice Tag Questions

This guide and activities about question tags should get you up to speed. Keep practicing turning statements into questions and level up your writing.

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Do you enjoy quiz shows? (question tags)

Grammar - question tags

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• learn to form question tags, 
• apply general knowledge to practise forming question tags,
• practise expressing uncertainty about facts using question tags.

With this question tags lesson plan, students learn to use question tags when they are uncertain about some facts. They do a general knowledge quiz . They also talk about quiz shows and watch people answering general knowledge questions.

B1 / Intermediate B2 / Upper Intermediate 60 min Standard Lesson Free / Premium Plan student's version teacher's version Unlock the e-lesson plan with the Premium subscription

VIDEO & QUESTION TAGS

This question tags lesson starts with a warm-up activity. Students discuss what general knowledge is and assess the state of their knowledge. Then, they watch the video and decide whether the questions in it are general knowledge questions. You can also choose to pause the video before the quiz show participants provide their answers. After that, students match halves to sentences with question tags (e.g. The driest place in the world is in the Atacama Desert, isn’t it? ). They also need to tick rules that apply to using and forming question tags. Then, students match the sentences with answers. Next, students complete gaps with question tags. They also need to answer the questions. 

The second part of this question tags lesson starts with a discussion . Students talk about quiz shows, explain rules of some, think of winning strategies, etc. Then, they answer questions from a quiz using question tags to confirm with their partner (e.g. There are four time zones in Brazil, aren’t there? ). Finally, students play a game based on the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? . If they are unsure about a rule, they can use a question tag to check with you. There are four sets of questions in the teacher’s pdf and the e-lesson plan. 

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This question tags lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students practise creating question tags. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

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Hi! Thank you for such a wonderful lesson, but I failed to find the 4 sets of questions without answers to play the game.

Thanks! The questions are on slides 28-31 (the slides are hidden so that students don’t see the answers) and on pages 5-6 of the teacher’s pdf.

But the right answers are highlighted there, so there aren’t tests without highlighted answers neither in the teacher’s pdf or on slides

The game that you are referring to (ex. 8/slide 27) is based on the game show ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’. The objective of the game isn’t to take a test but to communicate with team members and the teacher using question tags. This is why the teacher needs to read the questions out to students instead of showing the questions to them. See more details in ex. 8/slide 27.

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• Transcription

Question tags

One of the ways of making questions in English is the use of question tags.  Some examples ( tags in black ):

• These are all examples of balanced tags .  A negative sentence takes a positive tag and vice versa :     She doesn't understand, does she? (negative + positive)     Mary can come too, can't she? (positive + negative) Not all tag forms are balanced as we shall see.
• With main or lexical verbs such as like, hate, enjoy, do, arrive etc., we use the auxiliary verb do in the tag, providing the verb is in the present simple or past simple tense:     He didn't go, did he?     She smokes too much, doesn't she?
• With modal auxiliary verbs like can, must, could etc., we simply invert the verb and the subject to make a tag:     They couldn't see her, could they?     The play should be popular, shouldn't it?
• With the verb to be , whether it is an auxiliary or a main verb, we simply invert the order of subject and verb to make the tag:     You are John, aren't you? (as a main identifying verb)     You aren't alone, are you? (as a main verb with an adjective complement)     You are working too hard, aren't you? (as an auxiliary forming the progressive)     She was arrested, wasn't she? (as an auxiliary forming a passive voice sentence)
• With the verb to have the situation is slightly more complicated: When it is an auxiliary forming a tense, we treat it like to be , inverting the subject and the verb:     She has arrived, hasn't she?     She had left already, hadn't she? When it functions as a main verb, meaning something like possess , both forms are possible:     They have a lot of money, don't they?     They have a lot of money, haven't they?     They don't have much money, do they?     They haven't much money, have they? But, when we insert got after the verb, only the inverted form is possible:     We haven't got a lot of time, have we? not     *We haven't got a lot of time, do we? American and British usage differs in some respects here because AmE uses got less frequently in this sense.

That is actually rather a long list of rules and some are not simple.  It's an area to treat carefully and piecemeal in the classroom.

A few languages work like English with tags following grammatical rules for forming questions and negatives but many do not.  For example:

Many languages, including Polish, German, Greek and others can use a phrase or a single word meaning, roughly, True? or Not true?   So, e.g.: German: nicht wahr? [ not true? ], Spanish: ¿verdad? [ true? ], Polish: prawda? [ true? ] or nieprawdaż? [ not true? ], Greek: δεν είναι ετσι; ( then eenay etsi? ) [ is it not so? ] and so on. Some languages have a small range of words or phrases to ask for agreement such as French: n'est ce pas? [ isn't it ] or d'accord? [ agree? ]. In many languages there exists a small word used only for tag questions such as Mandarin ( ma? ), German dialects ( gell? ) Portuguese: né? and so on.

In most languages, the forms have become fossilised and do not vary in the complicated ways that the tags vary in English.  This presents obvious problems for learners.

Meaning is closely tied to intonation. In many cases, the tone of voice falls on the tag, like this:

When the voice falls like this, the tag functions to mean something like:     Please say you agree with me . In other words, it asks for confirmation that the speaker is correct rather than signalling a true question.  Notice that the words lovely and late are also stressed here.

When the tone rises, like this:

Then the sentences function as true interrogatives.  Notice that now we stress the verb because that is the focus of our attention.

The communicative function of the sentence is drawn from the first clause.  Compare, e.g.:     You want a drink, don't you? where the speaker is probably sure the answer will be 'yes' with:     You don't want a drink, do you? where a falling tone would imply the speaker expects a negative response but a rising tone would indicate surprise. The same thing happens with modal auxiliary verbs.  Compare:     You couldn't do it for me, could you? where a rising tone indicates a request, with:     You could do it for me, couldn't you? where a rising tone indicates a request but a falling tone indicates almost a command.

Unbalanced tags have a different, but very common, structure.  They involve positive + positive or negative + negative and have number of uses:

• Inference: So, the car's over the road, is it? i.e., I have figured this out from where we are walking
• Sarcasm, suspicion or irony: So you think you know me, do you? i.e., you are presuming too much or So, you don't believe me, don't you? i.e., it's not your place to make judgements
• Threat: You'd take my money, would you?
• Conclusion: So, he likes the book, does he? So, he hasn't had the time, hasn't he? The sense of reaching a conclusion is also signalled by the word then.    Technically speaking the word is a conjunct, linking what has been said before and implying that the hearer has inferred something from what has been said.  In this case, the intonation patterns strongly suggest that the word is being used instead of a tag question.  For example:     I'll give you a lift tonight if you like, then?     Oh, you are coming to the party, then?

In all of these the tone usually rises on the tag.

The use of an introductory So ... in these sorts of utterances is extremely common.  Don't try to teach the area without making that clear.

There are a few irregular forms to be wary of.

• Negating the verb be is irregular so the tags used with it are also irregular. If the first statement starts with I , the tag is formed with aren't :     I'm here, aren't I? This does not work the other way round:     I'm not invited, am I? not     *I'm not invited, are I? ( amn't I? exists in some dialects.) When the negative tag is used with the first person, only the contracted form is allowable so we get:     I'm playing, aren't I? but not     *I'm playing, are not I? This causes trouble when trying to use formal unabbreviated language and the only alternative is:     I'm playing, am I not? which sounds far too formal for many people. When the first clause is negative, no issues arise and we allow:     I'm not playing, am I? but learners may carry over the negative tag form, logically, and produce:     *I'm not playing, are I?
• Some consider a tag formed with may to be unusual or stilted:     Joan may come, mayn't she? The preference here is often to exchange may for could/might, when talking about possibility:     She could/might be here early, couldn't/mightn't she? and can for may when talking about permission:     M ary can come, can't she?
• Positive imperative forms (commands) take will in the tag:     Be quite, will you? which can be softened with would:     Be quiet, would you?
• Positive imperative forms also take both positive and negative tags with a slight change of emphasis:     Be quiet, won't you? (pleading)     Be, quiet, will you (command imperative) but this is not allowed with would:     *Be quiet, wouldn't you?
• Negative commands (i.e., prohibitions) take no tag so we can't say:     *Don't touch it, will you? (Although You won't touch it, will you? is fine.)
• Real imperatives are used with a rising tone and both positive and negative tags but a falling tone with a negative tag denotes concern.  Compare:     Drive carefully, will you? (rising tone indicates irritation and is an imperative)     Sit still, won't you? (rising tone indicates irritation and is an imperative)     Drive carefully, won't you? (falling tone indicates concern rather than an imperative)
• Complex tenses When we make a tag question with a complex tense (i.e., one that has more than one auxiliary verb), it is the first auxiliary which is used in the tag:     He has n't been working too hard again, has he?     He wo n't have arrived yet, will he?
• Pronunciation It is rare for weak forms of vowels to occur in tags.  The verb can is usually contracted to/kən/ in connected speech but in the tag, it retains its full pronunciation as /kæn/.  E.g.:     I can come, can't I? is usually transcribed as /ˈaɪ kən kʌm ˈkɑːnt aɪ/ but     I can't come, can I? is usually /ˈaɪ kɑːnt kʌm ˈkæn aɪ /

Tag questions are almost solely used in informal spoken language or written language which resembles spoken language (such as informal emails). As we saw above, under meaning, they can be simple statements requiring only confirmation, real questions or expressions of inference, sarcasm, threat, reprimand or conclusion. To make sure you have this, try a test .

Very often, tags questions are used to initiate or maintain a conversation and are very helpful to learners who sometimes struggle to achieve this. They are, however, quite complicated so should be approached in a piecemeal fashion.  One lesson will not be enough.

• Start with balanced tags.  Negative + Positive and Positive + Negative.
• Focus on to the use of be and have :     It's cold, isn't it?     You aren't wearing a coat, are you?     You haven't got a spare one, have you?
• Focus on modal auxiliary verbs:     I can't borrow hers, can I?     You could go inside, couldn't you?
• Focus on main verbs and do, does, did :     You didn't bring a hat, did you? etc.
• Only when the above have been mastered should you focus at more advanced levels on functions such as inference, conclusion, sarcasm or threat.

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Question Tags - Meaning, Definition and How to Use with Examples

Today is a good day, isn’t it?

All of us are used to asking questions when we need to gather some information. Using interrogative sentences is one way to do it. Do you know that there is also something called question tags? Well, let us learn what they are, their definition and usage. Also, check out the examples given in the article to have a clear idea of the same.

Table of Contents

Definition of a question tag, verbs and their corresponding question tags, positive statements with negative question tags, negative statements with positive question tags, check your understanding on question tags, frequently asked questions on question tags, what is a question tag.

A question tag can be generally described as a simple statement followed by a short question. Question tags are most often used in spoken language to confirm something that is said and also to encourage the listener to give an answer. In written language, the use of question tags can be seen only in dialogue writing and in stories which include dialogues.

A question tag or a tag question, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a phrase such as ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘don’t you?’ that you add to the end of a statement in order to turn it into a question or check that the statement is correct, as in, you like mushrooms, don’t you? ” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a question tag as “a short phrase such as “isn’t it” or “don’t you” that is added to the end of a sentence to check information or to ask if someone agrees with you”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a question tag is “a question (such as isn’t it in “it’s fine, isn’t it?”) added to a statement or command (as to gain the assent of or challenge the person addressed)”. The Collins Dictionary definition of a question tag is as follows – “In grammar, a question tag is a very short clause at the end of a statement which changes the statement into a question. For example, in ‘She said half price, didn’t she?’, the words ‘didn’t she’ are a question tag.”

Forming and Using Question Tags in Sentences

While question tags can look pretty easy to use, there are a few things you have to be mindful of when using them. Take a look at the following points to learn how to use a question tag accurately in a sentence.

• A sentence with a question tag takes the form – Statement, question tag?
• The punctuation of a sentence with a question is as follows – Capital letter to begin the sentence, a comma at the end of the statement, followed by the tag question and a question mark .
• The use of pronouns in question tags is another thing you need to focus on. If a pronoun is used as the subject , use the same pronoun in the question tag. On the other hand, if a noun (name of a person/place/animal/thing/idea) or a noun phrase acts as the subject in the statement, use a pronoun based on the gender/number in the question tag.
• If the statement is positive or affirmative, the question tag should be negative, and if the statement is negative, the question tag used should be positive.

For example: You are happy, aren’t you? (Positive statement – negative tag)

You aren’t happy, are you? (Negative statement – positive tag)

• When a statement expresses emotions of anger, surprise or interest, the question tag used has to be positive even though the statement is positive. For example: You think it is something to be proud of, do you?
• When there are two verbs (a main verb and an auxiliary/ helping verb ) in a sentence, the question tag should be formed using the auxiliary verb . For example: They were waiting for her, weren’t they?
• If the sentence contains a modal auxiliary verb, the question tag has to be formed using the modal verb . For example: The students should bring their parents for the meeting, shouldn’t they?
• Sentences with ‘have’, ‘has’ and ‘had’ as the main verb use the positive and negative form of ‘do’ as the question tag. For example: You have a pair of shoes, don’t you?
• Sentences with pronouns such as ‘nothing’ and ‘nobody’ should be considered negative statements and a positive tag has to be used. For example, Nothing is working, is it?
• Sentences with action verbs in the simple present tense form a question tag using the verb ‘do/does’ and its corresponding negative form. For example: He teaches Chemistry, doesn’t he?
• A sentence in the past tense will have question tags formed using the verb ‘did’. For example: Harry and Ron played tennis, didn’t they?
• As far as imperative sentences are concerned, use the positive or negative form of the verb ‘will’ to form the question tag.

Forming question tags is one of the easily comprehensible grammatical components in the English language . However, there are some exceptions. Check out the following table to have a clear idea of the verb and its question tag.

Examples of Sentences with Question Tags

Now that you know the function of question tags and how it is formed, read through the following 20+ question tag examples and analyse how it works.

• Shahina is the new lead, isn’t she?
• They have confirmed , haven’t they?
• Tharun and Varun are on their way to the airport, aren’t they?
• Her father is a doctor, isn’t he?
• The baby elephant that fell into the well was rescued by the locals, wasn’t it?
• Arranging transport and accommodation for the guests had been their first priority, hadn’t it?
• You like cookies, don’t you?
• Bring me some tissue papers, will you?
• They bought a new LED television, didn’t they?
• You have been looking for an apartment, haven’t you?
• Ritu and Brinha were not the best of friends from the start, were they?
• Sheena will not be attending the ceremony, will she?
• She would not have done that, would she?
• They have not arrived yet, have they?
• Buying a new car when you already had a loan wasn’t a good idea, was it?
• Making small talk isn’t your forte, is it?
• Balu, the bear isn’t the one that saves Mowgli from the monkeys, is it?
• All students have not submitted their assignments yet, have they?
• Tina had not informed the others about the change of venue, had she?
• You cannot survive without your phone, can you?

Positive Statements with Positive Question Tags to Express Interest, Anger and Surprise

• She is going ahead with her decision, is she?
• So they are moving to Italy, are they?
• You think this is a joke, do you?
• You ’re just going to sit there, are you?
• So this is the way it is going to be from now on, is it?

Here is an exercise for you to check how far you have understood the use of question tags. Go through and add question tags to the following sentences.

1. You must be there by 11:30 a.m., ___________

2. Gowri is not present today, ___________

3. The teacher had asked you to submit an address proof, ___________

4. He is the prime suspect, ___________

5. Harini and Gowtham were not here, ___________

6. Get me the duster, ___________

7. I don’t think your sister will be pleased to see this, ___________

8. You will have waited for me, ___________

9. They brought a bottle of wine when they came, ___________

10. Dom and Andreah have a baby girl, ___________

Find out if you have got them all right from the answers given below.

1. You must be there by 11:30 a.m., mustn’t you?

2. Gowri is not present today, is she?

3. The teacher had asked you to submit an address proof, hadn’t she?

4. He is the prime suspect, isn’t he?

5. Harini and Gowtham were not here, were they?

6. Get me the duster, will you?

7. I don’t think your sister will be pleased to see this, will she?

8. You will have waited for me, won’t you?

9. They brought a bottle of wine when they came, didn’t they?

10. Dom and Andreah have a baby girl, don’t they?

Check out more question tags exercises to improve your knowledge of question tags and its usage.

What is a question tag?

A question tag is a simple statement followed by a short question. Question tags are most often used in spoken language to confirm something that is said and also to encourage the listener to give an answer.

What is the structure of a sentence with a question tag?

A sentence containing a question tag will have the following structure: Positive statement, negative tag? Negative statement, positive tag?

What are the exceptions to be taken care of when using question tags?

Here are a few exceptions to be noted when using question tags.

• Sentences with ‘have’, ‘has’ and ‘had’ as the main verb use the positive and negative form of ‘do’ as the question tag.
• Sentences with action verbs in the simple present tense form a question tag using the verb ‘do/does’ and its corresponding negative form.
• A sentence in the past tense will have question tags formed using the verb ‘did’.
• When a statement expresses emotions of anger, surprise or interest, the question tag used has to be positive even though the statement is positive.

Give some examples of sentences with question tags.

Here is a list of sentences with question tags for your reference.

• Bring a loaf of bread when you come, will you?
• You did not find the book you were looking for, did you?
• Nobody knew what happened to Sandeep, did they?
• He has been meaning to talk to you about it, hasn’t he?
• Everything was planned perfectly, wasn’t it?

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Assam class 12 hs exam tense exercise: general english, class 12 hs exam: question tags exercises with answers.

Fill in the gaps with question tags.

HS Exam 2007

1. She did not go to school yesterday, did she ?

2. Nobody came to meet him at the station, did they ?

3. You like a lot of sugar in your milk, don't you ?

4. You are coming to school, aren't you ?

5. They will come here, won't they ?

6. Close the door, will you ? Or

won't you ?

7. Don't go there, will you ?

HS Exam 2008

1. Everything has gone wrong today, hasn't it ?

2. Sachin shouldn't have played that shot, should he ?

3. Please leave me alone, will you ? Or

4. Vishwanathan Anand has become the world champion in Chess, hasn't he ?

5. Please don't disturb me, will you ?

6. You are coming to see my brother, aren't you ?

7. Dhoni led Team India to a great victory, didn't he  ?

HS Exam 2009

1. You did not go home yesterday, did you ?

2. Ganguly has not been selected for Ranji Trophy, has he ?

3. The Prime Minister has congratulated Abhinav Bindra, hasn't he ?

4. Don't let him go, will you ?

5. She is singing like Lata Mangeshkar, isn't she ?

6. He should not leave his wife alone, should he ?

7. Kumble is the only bowler to take ten wickets in an innings, isn't he ?

HS Exam 2010

1. We should love our country, shouldn't we ? 

2. He has hardly eaten anything, has he ?

3. My mother has a bath in the evening, doesn't she ?

4. I'll tell my father what you said, won't I ?

5. Close the door, will you ? Or

6. Everyone present there made a wild rush for the door, didn't they ?

7. Everything has gone wrong today, hasn't it ?

HS Exam 2011

1. He did not go to play today, did he ?

2. They went to play, didn't they ?

4. You are going to watch the movie, aren't you ?

5. She could not answer him, could she ?

6. She speaks German well, doesn't she ?

7. You should have done this, shouldn't you ?

HS Exam 2012

1. We have plenty of time, haven't we ?

2. We saw no-one we knew, did we ?

3. A few people knew the answer, didn't they ?

4. I am reading a book, aren't I ?

5. Everything looked beautiful, didn't it ?

6. Please ask the girls to come in, will you ? Or

7. No one can stand against a woman's will, can they ?

8. Let us play cricket, shall we ?

HS Exam 2013

1. You like a lot of sugar in milk, don't you ?

2. Don't be late to dinner, will you ?

3. None of the labour arrived on time, did they ?

4. One can't be too careful about that, can they ?

5. Please close the door, will you ? Or won't you ?

6. Sunidhi speaks French well, doesn't she ?

7. I am older than you, aren't I ?

8. She did not go home during the vacation, did she ?

HS Exam 2014

1. You can speak French, can't you ?

2. Ravi would like to go there, wouldn't he ?

3. Raju is not a good student, is he ?

4. You haven't read Shakespeare, have you ?

5. The captain did not agree to this, did he ?

6. Please ask the boys to come in, will you ? Or won't you ?

7. You are not angry with me, are you ?

8. No one appeared to be honest, did they ?

HS Exam 2015

1. She would not go home during holidays, would she ?

2. The captain did not agree to this, did he ?

3. Anyone could have done it, couldn't they ?

4. Let us have a cup of coffee now, shall we ?

5. There is no doctor in this village, is there ?

7. None could tell the address, could they ?

8. He will let her go home tomorrow, won't he ?

HS Exam 2016

1. You are very intelligent, aren't you  ?

2. He can finish the assignment by tomorrow, can't he ?

3. It is very cold today, isn't it ?

4. All students must wear their uniform, mustn't they ?

5. He hopes to win the competition, doesn't he ?

6. We will go for a picnic, won't we ?

7. The little white dog is wearing a red collar, isn't it ?

8. She is very stylish, isn't she ?

HS Exam 2017

1. The new five hundred rupee note is smaller than the old one, isn't it ?

2. Your house faces the river, doesn't it ?

3. We will go for the movie together, won't we ?

4. They are going to Gangtok on an excursion, aren't they  ?

5. Rome wasn't built in a day, was it ?

6. Our winters are very pleasant, aren't they ?

7. You will show me your new bike, won't you ?

8. Your computer hasn't crashed, has it ?

HS Exam 2018

1. You are learning music, aren't you ?

2. They have been to Mumbai, haven't they ?

3. He can act very well, can't he ?

4. She is an expert Rollerblader, isn't she ?

5. Judy has just recovered from a bout of chickenpox, hasn't she ?

6. You could have done the work last week, couldn't you ?

7. Jio is going overboard with its offers, isn't it ?

8. Global warming is really affecting our winters, isn't it ?

HS Exam 2019

1. She is an excellent dancer, isn't she ?

2. Now you can make question tags, can't you ?

3. We are going to attend a party, aren't we ?

4. The house needs immediate repairing, doesn't it ?

5. I have not done my homework yet, have I ?

6. He kept his promise, didn't he ?

7. They will not be there, will they ?

8. Riyan has just arrived home, hasn't he ?

HS Exam 2020

1. Her garden is very beautiful, isn't it ?

2. Ridhi has just arrived from school, hasn't he ?

3. We will go to Shillong tomorrow, won't we ?

4. No man is immortal, are they ?

5. He is stronger than his brother, isn't he ?

6. She acted according to instructions, didn't she ?

7. I cannot do it without your help, can I ?

8. He tried with all his might, didn't he ?

Thxxxx alot

Really appreciated

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