Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements to confirm information or invite agreement. They are very common in spoken English and make your conversations sound more natural.
Basic Structure
The basic structure of a question tag follows this pattern:
Statement / Question Tag
Example:
- You like coffee, don’t you?
- She isn’t coming, is she?
- They have finished, haven’t they?
The question tag usually consists of an auxiliary verb (be, have, do, or a modal verb) and a pronoun. The general rule is:
If the statement is positive, the question tag is negative
If the statement is negative, the question tag is positive
Example:
- You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
- He doesn’t work here, does he?
Examples with Different Tenses
Present Simple
For the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb “do” in the question tag:
- You work here, don’t you?
- They don’t like fish, do they?
Present Continuous
For the present continuous, we use the appropriate form of “be” in the question tag:
- You’re studying English, aren’t you?
- They aren’t working today, are they?
Present Perfect
For the present perfect, we use “have” or “has” in the question tag:
- You’ve been to London, haven’t you?
- She hasn’t finished her homework, has she?
Past Simple
For the past simple, we use “did” in the question tag:
- You went to the party, didn’t you?
- They didn’t call you, did they?
Future with “will”
For future statements with “will,” we use “will” in the question tag:
- You’ll be there tomorrow, won’t you?
- She won’t forget the meeting, will she?
Special Cases
With “I am”
When the statement begins with “I am,” the question tag is usually “aren’t I”:
- I’m late, aren’t I?
With imperatives
With imperatives (commands), we usually use “will you” or “won’t you” as the question tag:
- Open the window, will you?
- Don’t forget to call, will you?
With “Let’s”
When we use “Let’s,” the question tag is usually “shall we”:
- Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
With modal verbs
The question tag uses the same modal verb as the main statement:
- You should study more, shouldn’t you?
- They can’t swim, can they?
- He must be tired, mustn’t he?
Intonation and Meaning
The intonation used with question tags is important as it can change the meaning:
Rising intonation (voice goes up at the end): When you aren’t sure and want to ask a real question
- You’ve finished the report, haven’t you?
Falling intonation (voice goes down at the end): When you’re pretty sure and just seeking confirmation
- It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
Common Question Tags Table
| Statement | Question Tag |
|---|---|
| I am | aren’t I? |
| I’m not | am I? |
| You are | aren’t you? |
| You aren’t | are you? |
| He/She/It is | isn’t he/she/it? |
| He/She/It isn’t | is he/she/it? |
| We/You/They are | aren’t we/you/they? |
| We/You/They aren’t | are we/you/they? |
| I/You/We/They have | haven’t I/you/we/they? |
| I/You/We/They haven’t | have I/you/we/they? |
| He/She/It has | hasn’t he/she/it? |
| He/She/It hasn’t | has he/she/it? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They do | don’t I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They don’t | do I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They did | didn’t I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They didn’t | did I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They will | won’t I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They won’t | will I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They would | wouldn’t I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
| I/You/He/She/It/We/They wouldn’t | would I/you/he/she/it/we/they? |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using a positive tag with a positive statement
- ❌ You are a student, are you?
- ✓ You are a student, aren’t you?
Using a negative tag with a negative statement
- ❌ You aren’t hungry, aren’t you?
- ✓ You aren’t hungry, are you?
Not matching the auxiliary verb
- ❌ She has gone home, doesn’t she?
- ✓ She has gone home, hasn’t she?
Not using the correct pronoun
- ❌ The boys are playing football, aren’t they?
- ✓ The boys are playing football, aren’t they?
Summary
Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements. They make your English sound more natural and conversational. Remember these key points:
- Use the opposite form in the tag (positive → negative; negative → positive)
- Use the same auxiliary verb and tense as in the main statement
- Match the subject with the appropriate pronoun
- Pay attention to your intonation to convey your level of certainty