What is a Tag Question?
A tag question is a
short question added to the end of a sentence, usually to confirm, check
information, or encourage a
reply.
You're coming
to the party, aren’t you?
It’s often used in spoken English
to seek agreement or clarification.
Basic Rules of Tag Questions
Rule 1: Positive Sentence →
Negative Tag
If the main sentence is positive,
the question tag is negative.
She is a nurse, isn’t she?
They play football, don’t they?
Rule 2: Negative Sentence →
Positive Tag
If the main sentence is negative,
the tag is positive.
He doesn’t like coffee, does he?
You aren’t coming, are you?
Note:
Negative sentences with words like never,
hardly, rarely,
seldom, barely,
etc., also take positive tags (see
advanced rules).
Helping Verb in Tag
The tag
must match the helping/auxiliary verb of the main sentence. If
there is no helping verb, we use do/does/did.
Examples:
|
Sentence |
Tag |
|
She is
tired, |
isn’t she? |
|
He has
finished, |
hasn’t he? |
|
You don’t
like tea, |
do you? |
|
They play
well, |
don’t they? |
|
She came
late, |
didn’t she? |
Pronoun Agreement
The subject of the tag must match
the subject of the sentence.
Gita is a dancer, isn’t she?
The boys played well, didn’t they?
A complete table
of auxiliary verbs with "not" in both full form and contraction
form (short form):
|
Full Form |
Contraction (Short Form) |
|
is not |
isn't |
|
are not |
aren't |
|
was not |
wasn't |
|
were not |
weren't |
|
have not |
haven't |
|
has not |
hasn't |
|
had not |
hadn't |
|
do not |
don't |
|
does not |
doesn't |
|
did not |
didn't |
|
will not |
won't |
|
would not |
wouldn't |
|
shall not |
shan't |
|
should not |
shouldn't |
|
cannot |
can't |
|
could not |
couldn't |
|
may not |
mayn't (rare,
formal) |
|
might not |
mightn't |
|
must not |
mustn't |
|
need not |
needn't |
|
dare not |
daren't |
|
ought not |
oughtn't |
|
used not |
usedn't (rare/old-fashioned) |
Notes:
- "Won’t" is a
special contraction of "will not", not willn't.
- Some
contractions like "shan’t", "mayn’t", "daren’t"
are considered formal, old-fashioned, or less common in modern English.
- "Can
not"
is usually written as one word: "cannot” and its contraction
is "can't".
Advanced Rules of Tag Questions
1. Imperative Sentences
(Commands/Requests)
Use "will
you?", "won’t
you?", "can
you?", or "could
you?" depending on tone.
Open the door, will you? (polite)
Help me with this, won’t you?
(friendly)
If it's a request
with "let's", use "shall
we?"
Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
2. Sentences with ‘Nothing’,
‘Nobody’, ‘None’, ‘No one’ → Use “they” in the tag
Nobody called me, did they?
Nothing is wrong, is it?
3. Sentences with Indefinite
Pronouns (someone, everyone, etc.) → Use “they”
Someone stole my bag, didn’t they?
Everyone was happy, weren’t they?
4. With “I am” — Tag is “aren’t
I?”
I’m your friend, aren’t I?
Note:
"Amn't I?" is not used in standard English.
5. With “Used to” – Tag is
“didn’t”
He used to live here, didn’t he?
6. With Negative Words (never,
hardly, seldom, etc.) — Treat as Negative
He never lies, does he?
She seldom comes here, does she?
7. With "There" as
Subject
There is a problem, isn’t there?
There weren’t any people, were there?
8. With “Have got” (British
English)
She has got a car, hasn’t she?
They haven’t got a clue, have they?
Common Tag Question Patterns with Examples
|
Sentence Type |
Example Sentence |
Tag |
|
Positive (present simple) |
You like tea, |
don’t you? |
|
Negative (present simple) |
You don’t like tea, |
do you? |
|
Positive (past simple) |
He came late, |
didn’t he? |
|
Negative (past simple) |
He didn’t come, |
did he? |
|
Present perfect |
She has finished, |
hasn’t she? |
|
Modal verbs |
You can drive, |
can’t you? |
|
With “Let’s” |
Let’s go now, |
shall we? |
|
Imperative |
Close the window, |
will you? |
Practice Questions (Try Yourself):
1.
He plays guitar, ___?
2.
You don’t like spicy food, ___?
3.
Let’s study together, ___?
4.
She has never been abroad, ___?
5.
I’m right, ___?
6.
Someone left the door open, ___?
7.
The sun rises in the east, ___?
8.
They won’t come to the party, ___?
9.
There is a book on the table, ___?
10. Nobody
was late, ___?
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