Tag Questions in English
What Are Tag Questions?
A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement. It is usually used to:
- confirm information
- seek agreement
- express surprise
- make conversation more natural
A tag question usually consists of:
Auxiliary verb + pronoun
1. The Golden Rule: Opposite Polarity
The most important rule of tag questions is the opposite polarity rule.
Positive statement → Negative tag
Positive statement + negative tag
- He is late, isn't he?
- She works hard, doesn't she?
Negative statement → Positive tag
Negative statement + positive tag
- She doesn't like coffee, does she?
- He isn't coming, is he?
Remember
Statement Tag
Positive → Negative
Negative → Positive
2. Use the Correct Auxiliary Verb
The auxiliary verb in the tag should normally come from the main statement.
Examples:
- She is ready, isn't she?
- They are coming, aren't they?
- He has finished, hasn't he?
- You will help me, won't you?
- She can swim, can't she?
Important Rule
Do not change the auxiliary verb unnecessarily.
❌ She is happy, doesn't she?
✔ She is happy, isn't she?
❌ They have arrived, don't they?
✔ They have arrived, haven't they?
3. What If There Is No Auxiliary Verb?
If the statement is in the present simple or past simple and does not contain an auxiliary verb, use:
- do / does for the present simple
- did for the past simple
Present Simple
- You like tea, don't you?
- They don't know him, do they?
Past Simple
- He called you, didn't he?
- They didn't come, did they?
4. The Subject in the Tag Must Be a Pronoun
Do not normally repeat the full noun or name in the question tag. Replace the subject with the correct pronoun.
Examples
- Ali is coming, isn't he?
- Sara lives here, doesn't she?
- The children are playing, aren't they?
- The book is interesting, isn't it?
❌ Ali is coming, isn't Ali?
✔ Ali is coming, isn't he?
5. Pronouns Used in Tag Questions
Subject in the Statement Pronoun in the Tag
Ali → he
Sara → she
the boy → he
the girl → she
the book → it
the children→ they
Ali and Sara→ they
Examples:
- The students are ready, aren't they?
- The car is expensive, isn't it?
6. Special Case: I Am
The standard negative tag after I am is:
aren't I?
Example:
- I am late, aren't I?
❌ I am late, amn't I?
✔ I am late, aren't I?
7. Statements Beginning with Let's
When let's is used to make a suggestion, the usual tag is:
shall we?
Examples:
- Let's go home, shall we?
❌ Let's go now, will we?
✔ Let's go now, shall we?
8. Tag Questions with Imperatives
An imperative sentence gives an order, instruction, request, or command.
The common tags are:
will you?
won't you?
can you?
could you?
Examples
- Open the door, will you?
- Take a seat, won't you?
- Pass me the book, can you?
- Please lend me your pen, could you?
9. Negative Words Usually Require a Positive Tag
Some statements have a negative meaning even though they do not contain not.
Common negative or limiting words include:
- never
- hardly
- scarcely
- rarely
- seldom
- nobody
- no one
- nothing
Because these words make the statement negative in meaning, we usually use a positive tag.
Examples
- He never lies, does he?
- She hardly knows him, does she?
- They scarcely visit us, do they?
❌ He never lies, doesn't he?
✔ He never lies, does he?
Important Note
Do not normally use a negative tag after an already negative statement.
10. Indefinite Pronouns in Tag Questions
Words such as:
- everyone
- everybody
- someone
- somebody
- anyone
often take they in the question tag when referring to a person.
Examples
- Everyone is ready, aren't they?
- Somebody called, didn't they?
Using they avoids repeating a gender-specific pronoun when the person is not identified.
11. Auxiliary and Tense Connection
The tag must match the tense and auxiliary verb of the statement.
Present Continuous
- She is studying, isn't she?
- They aren't working, are they?
Past Continuous
- He was sleeping, wasn't he?
- They weren't waiting, were they?
Present Perfect
- She has finished, hasn't she?
- They haven't arrived, have they?
Past Perfect
- He had left, hadn't he?
- They hadn't eaten, had they?
Future
- She will come, won't she?
- They won't refuse, will they?
Modal Verbs
- He can swim, can't he?
- You should study, shouldn't you?
- They must leave, mustn't they?
12. Tag Questions with Have
When have is used as an auxiliary verb, repeat have or has in the tag.
Examples
- They have finished, haven't they?
- She has completed her work, hasn't she?
When have is used as an ordinary verb, the tag may use do/does/did, especially in standard modern usage.
- They have a new car, don't they?
- She had a problem, didn't she?
13. Question Tags with There
When a statement begins with there, the tag also uses there.
Examples
- There is a problem, isn't there?
- There are many students, aren't there?
14. Question Tags with This, That, These and Those
Use the appropriate pronoun in the tag.
Examples
- This is your book, isn't it?
- That was difficult, wasn't it?
Common Mistakes in Tag Questions
❌ He is late, is he?
✔ He is late, isn't he?
❌ She is happy, doesn't she?
✔ She is happy, isn't she?
❌ Ali is a doctor, isn't Ali?
✔ Ali is a doctor, isn't he?
❌ They were late, wasn't they?
✔ They were late, weren't they?
❌ He never visits us, doesn't he?
✔ He never visits us, does he?
❌ She works hard, worksn't she?
✔ She works hard, doesn't she?