Question tags
A2 ElementaryQuestion tags are short questions added to the end of a statement to confirm information or ask for agreement. They use an auxiliary verb and a subject pronoun that matches the main sentence.
Overview
Question tags turn a statement into a question. They are very common in spoken English when you want to check if something is true or when you want the other person to agree with you.
- Use a negative tag after a positive statement.
- Use a positive tag after a negative statement.
Form
Statement + [Auxiliary Verb + Pronoun]?
The tag uses the same auxiliary verb as the main sentence (e.g., be, do, have, or modal verbs). If the main sentence has no auxiliary verb, use do, does, or did.
Positive vs. Negative
The pronoun in the tag must always match the subject of the main sentence.
| Statement Type | Tag Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Negative | It is cold, isn't it? |
| Negative | Positive | You don't like tea, do you? |
Examples
Common mistakes
You are tired, are you?
You are tired, isn't it? / You are tired, aren't you?
A positive statement needs a negative tag. Also, the tag must match the subject 'you', not 'it'.
He plays football, doesn't he?
He plays football, doesn't he?
Always use a pronoun (he, she, it, they) in the tag, never a name.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'It isn't raining, _______?'
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is it
Answer:is it
Why:The main sentence is negative ('isn't'), so the tag must be positive ('is'). The subject 'it' remains the same.
Complete the sentence: 'Your parents work here, _______?'
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don't they
Answer:don't they
Why:The verb 'work' is in the present simple. Since there is no auxiliary verb in the positive statement, we use 'do'. 'Parents' is plural, so we use the pronoun 'they'.
Complete the sentence: 'We can go now, _______?'
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can't we
Answer:can't we
Why:The modal verb 'can' is used in the statement, so it must be used in the tag. Because the statement is positive, the tag must be negative ('can't').