Category: Grammar Expansion
Question Tags
Question Tags
Question tags are short questions added at the end of a statement to confirm information or seek agreement. They are very common in spoken English.
You're a student, aren't you?
Basic Rules
- Positive statement → Negative tag
She is beautiful, isn't she? - Negative statement → Positive tag
He doesn't like coffee, does he? - Use the same auxiliary verb (or add do/does/did if no auxiliary)
- Use pronoun in the tag (he, she, it, they, etc.)
Formation Table
| Statement | Question Tag |
|---|---|
| You are tired, | aren't you? |
| She isn't coming, | is she? |
| They can swim, | can't they? |
| He can't drive, | can he? |
| You will help, | won't you? |
| She has finished, | hasn't she? |
| They were late, | weren't they? |
| He likes tea, | doesn't he? |
| You went there, | didn't you? |
| She doesn't know, | does she? |
Special Cases
1. "I am"
I am late, aren't I? (not "amn't I")
2. Imperatives (Commands)
- Close the door, will you?
- Let's go, shall we?
- Don't be late, will you?
3. "There is/are"
There is a problem, isn't there?
4. Nobody, nothing, no one (negative)
- Nobody came, did they? (positive tag)
- Nothing happened, did it?
5. Everybody, someone, anyone
Everybody knows, don't they? (use "they")
Intonation
- Rising ↑: Real question, not sure of answer
You're coming, aren't you? ↑ (I'm not sure) - Falling ↓: Just confirming, expect agreement
Nice day, isn't it? ↓ (I expect you to agree)
More Examples
- It's cold today, isn't it?
- You haven't eaten, have you?
- She won't be late, will she?
- They should study, shouldn't they?
- You've been there, haven't you?