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
Examples
- You are a student, aren't you?
- She doesn't like coffee, does she?
- They have arrived, haven't they?
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?
- They have finished, haven't they?
Negative statement → Positive tag
Negative statement + positive tag
- She doesn't like coffee, does she?
- He isn't coming, is he?
- They haven't finished, have they?
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?
- She works here, doesn't she?
- They don't know him, do they?
Past Simple
- He called you, didn't he?
- She went home, didn't she?
- 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?
- Your parents live here, don't they?
6. Special Case: I Am
The standard negative tag after I am is:
aren't I?
Examples
- I am late, aren't I?
- I am your friend, aren't I?
- I'm invited, 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 start the meeting, shall we?
- Let's help them, 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?
Examples
- Open the door, will you?
- Don't make noise, will you?
- Help me with this, will you?
- Take a seat, won't you?
The choice between will you? and won't you? can depend on the tone and meaning of the sentence.
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?
- Nobody called, did they?
- Nothing happened, did it?
❌ 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
- nobody
often take they in the question tag when referring to a person.
Examples
- Everyone is ready, aren't they?
- Somebody called, didn't they?
- Nobody came, did they?
- Everyone has finished, haven'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?
- There wasn't anyone there, was 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?
- These are yours, aren't they?
- Those weren't expensive, were they?
15. Question Tags with I Think, I Believe and I Suppose
When the main idea is contained in the clause after I think, I believe, or I suppose, the tag often relates to that main idea.
Examples
- I think she is coming, isn't she?
- I believe they know the answer, don't they?
- I suppose he won't come, will he?
This structure is more common in natural conversation.
Common Mistakes in Tag Questions
Mistake 1: Using the Same Polarity
❌ He is late, is he?
✔ He is late, isn't he?
A positive statement normally takes a negative tag.
Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Auxiliary Verb
❌ She is happy, doesn't she?
✔ She is happy, isn't she?
Use the auxiliary that matches the statement.
Mistake 3: Using a Full Name Instead of a Pronoun
❌ Ali is a doctor, isn't Ali?
✔ Ali is a doctor, isn't he?
The subject in the tag should normally be a pronoun.
Mistake 4: Using Was Instead of Were with Plural Subjects
❌ They were late, wasn't they?
✔ They were late, weren't they?
The auxiliary must agree with the subject.
Mistake 5: Using a Negative Tag After a Negative-Meaning Word
❌ He never visits us, doesn't he?
✔ He never visits us, does he?
Words such as never, hardly, scarcely, nobody, and nothing already give the statement a negative meaning.
Mistake 6: Forgetting Do/Does/Did
❌ She works hard, worksn't she?
✔ She works hard, doesn't she?
Use do, does, or did when the statement has no other auxiliary.
Quick Formula for Making Tag Questions
Follow these four steps:
Step 1: Check whether the statement is positive or negative.
Step 2: Choose the correct auxiliary verb.
Step 3: Change the polarity.
- Positive → Negative tag
- Negative → Positive tag
Step 4: Replace the subject with the correct pronoun.
Example
She has finished her work.
- Statement: Positive
- Auxiliary: has
- Change to negative: hasn't
- Pronoun: she
✔ She has finished her work, hasn't she?
Key Takeaway
A tag question must match the auxiliary verb and tense of the statement, use the correct pronoun, and normally have the opposite polarity.
Examples to Remember
- She is your friend, isn't she?
- They don't know us, do they?
- He works hard, doesn't he?
- She went home, didn't she?
- I am late, aren't I?
- Let's begin, shall we?
- Open the window, will you?
- He never complains, does he?
- Everyone is ready, aren't they?