What Are Question Tags?

Please follow and like us:

Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question, often seeking confirmation or agreement. They consist of an auxiliary/modal verb and a subject pronoun.

Important Points About Question Tags:

1. Purpose:

• To confirm information.
• To invite agreement (e.g., You’re coming with us, aren’t you?).
• To show interest or encourage response.

1. Structure:

• Statement + comma + question tag (auxiliary verb + subject pronoun).
  Example: She is coming, isn’t she?

1. Rules for Formation:

• If the main sentence is affirmative, the tag is negative.
  • Example: He likes tea, doesn’t he?
• If the main sentence is negative, the tag is affirmative.
  • Example: You didn’t go, did you?

1. Verb Matching:
   The auxiliary/modal verb in the tag must match the tense and form of the main verb.

• Example: They have finished, haven’t they?

1. Subject Pronouns:
   Use pronouns, not nouns.

• Example: John is here, isn’t he? ❌ NOT “isn’t John?”

1. Intonation:

• Rising intonation = genuine question.
• Falling intonation = not really a question but seeking agreement.

1. Use with Imperatives:

• Affirmative imperative → negative tag.
  • Example: Open the window, will you?
• Negative imperative → positive tag.
  • Example: Don’t touch that, will you?

1. Special Cases:

• With “I am”, use “aren’t I?”
  • Example: I’m right, aren’t I?
• With “Let’s…”, use “shall we?”
  • Example: Let’s go, shall we?
• With “Let us…”, use “will you?”
  • Example: Let us pray, will you?
• With “Nothing”, “Everyone”, etc., use appropriate pronoun.
  • Example: Nobody came, did they?

1. No Tag After Commands or Exclamations:

• Not used after exclamatory sentences or direct commands unless softened.

1. Tense Consistency:
   • Present simple: He plays well, doesn’t he?
   • Past simple: They went out, didn’t they?
   • Present continuous: You’re joking, aren’t you?
   • Modal verbs: She can swim, can’t she?

Tips for Using Question Tags Correctly

1. Match the Auxiliary Verb:

• Use the same helping verb from the main sentence if possible.
• If no auxiliary verb, use do/does/did.
  • Example: He likes chocolate, doesn’t he?

1. Pronouns Matter:

• Replace noun subjects with pronouns.
  • Example: Your brother works here, doesn’t he?

1. Negative Words Like Never, Hardly, Seldom, Rarely:

• These make the sentence negative → positive tag.
  • Example: He never lies, does he?

1. “There is/are” becomes “isn’t/aren’t there”:

• Example: There is a problem, isn’t there?

1. “This is…” becomes “isn’t it”:

• Example: This is your book, isn’t it?

1. “Used to”:

• Can be tagged as: didn’t he? or usedn’t he? (rare)
  • Example: He used to smoke, didn’t he?

1. “Have to” vs “Have got to”:

• You have to go, don’t you?
• You’ve got to go, haven’t you?

1. “Ought to”:

• Less common, but: You ought to help, shouldn’t you?

1. “Would rather”:

• You’d rather stay, wouldn’t you?

1. Be careful with “I think” expressions:
   • I think he is right, isn’t he? (less common)
     Better: He is right, isn’t he?

100 Examples of Question Tags

Here’s a list of 100 question tags covering various tenses, structures, and special cases:

1. You like ice cream, don’t you?
2. She is sleeping, isn’t she?
3. He doesn’t know, does he?
4. They are ready, aren’t they?
5. We should go now, shouldn’t we?
6. It looks nice, doesn’t it?
7. He can swim, can’t he?
8. You won’t tell anyone, will you?
9. They didn’t come, did they?
10. Let’s eat, shall we?
11. Don’t forget me, will you?
12. Nothing happened, did it?
13. Everyone passed the exam, didn’t they?
14. He ever told you that, did he?
15. That’s yours, isn’t it?
16. I’m late, aren’t I?
17. There was a problem, wasn’t there?
18. You’d better hurry, hadn’t you?
19. He hardly eats, does he?
20. She rarely goes out, does she?
21. He always helps, doesn’t he?
22. You must leave now, mustn’t you?
23. Let us go, will you?
24. Open the door, won’t you?
25. She has gone, hasn’t she?
26. You had finished, hadn’t you?
27. He would come, wouldn’t he?
28. They could win, couldn’t they?
29. He might be wrong, mightn’t he? (formal/rare)
30. You needn’t worry, need you?
31. He dare not speak, dare he?
32. She used to live here, didn’t she?
33. This is correct, isn’t it?
34. There is nothing left, is there?
35. You weren’t listening, were you?
36. He hasn’t called, has he?
37. I am fine, aren’t I?
38. He doesn’t agree, does he?
39. She is clever, isn’t she?
40. You don’t mind, do you?
41. He won’t stop, will he?
42. They can’t see us, can they?
43. She should try again, shouldn’t she?
44. He may come, mayn’t he? (rare)
45. You’d like some tea, wouldn’t you?
46. He must be tired, mustn’t he?
47. We need to hurry, don’t we?
48. Let’s not argue, shall we?
49. She didn’t call, did she?
50. He seldom arrives early, does he?
51. They rarely visit, do they?
52. Nothing surprises you, does it?
53. He never calls, does he?
54. Everything went well, didn’t it?
55. He has to work today, doesn’t he?
56. You’ve got time, haven’t you?
57. He’d rather rest, wouldn’t he?
58. You’d better study, hadn’t you?
59. She dares to speak, doesn’t she?
60. He needn’t go, need he?
61. You can hear me, can’t you?
62. He won’t forgive her, will he?
63. They must leave, mustn’t they?
64. She doesn’t care, does she?
65. You haven’t seen him, have you?
66. He used to play football, didn’t he?
67. That’s enough, isn’t it?
68. There were many people, weren’t there?
69. You were there, weren’t you?
70. He isn’t serious, is he?
71. She isn’t going, is she?
72. He doesn’t understand, does he?
73. You can’t read this, can you?
74. He mustn’t lie, must he?
75. You’ll come with us, won’t you?
76. He won’t forget, will he?
77. She doesn’t want to, does she?
78. They had to leave, didn’t they?
79. He could have tried, couldn’t he?
80. You wouldn’t mind, would you?
81. He might be there, mightn’t he?
82. She needs help, doesn’t she?
83. He needn’t go, need he?
84. You’ve been there, haven’t you?
85. He’d like to join, wouldn’t he?
86. They shouldn’t do that, should they?
87. He doesn’t look well, does he?
88. You don’t believe it, do you?
89. She didn’t reply, did she?
90. He has his reasons, hasn’t he?
91. You aren’t serious, are you?
92. He doesn’t agree, does he?
93. She doesn’t know, does she?
94. You won’t tell anyone, will you?
95. He must be joking, mustn’t he?
96. You had better listen, hadn’t you?
97. He dares to speak, doesn’t he?
98. She used to travel, didn’t she?
99. Let’s meet tomorrow, shall we?
100. Nothing ever changes, does it?

Final Tips Summary

• Always match the tense and subject.
• Remember the negative-positive rule.
• Learn special cases by heart.
• Use pronouns, not full names.
• Be aware of intonation (rising vs falling).
• Practice with real-life examples to internalize patterns.

Also Read: 50 Examples of Active Voice to Passive Voice (Present Continuous Tense)

Please follow and like us:

About The Author

admin

See author's posts