Question Tags in English

Quick Answer: A question tag is a mini question at the end of a sentence: "It's cold, isn't it?" Use a negative tag after a positive sentence and a positive tag after a negative sentence: "You don't eat meat, do you?" Repeat the auxiliary verb (be, have, can, will) or use do, does or did when there is none.

Key takeaways

• Positive sentence, negative tag ("It's cold, isn't it?"); negative sentence, positive tag ("You don't eat meat, do you?").
• Repeat the auxiliary (be, have, can, will, should); if there is none, use do, does or did in the same tense.
• The tag always uses a pronoun: "Your sister is a nurse, isn't she?"
• Special forms: I am takes aren't I, Let's takes shall we, and imperatives take will you.
• Never, nobody, nothing and hardly make a sentence negative, so the tag is positive: "Nobody called, did they?"
• Falling intonation asks for agreement; rising intonation asks a real question.

How do you form a question tag?

There are three steps:

1. Find the auxiliary verb (be, have, can, will, should and so on). If there is none, use do, does or did.
2. Make the tag opposite: positive sentence, negative tag; negative sentence, positive tag.
3. Use a pronoun for the subject: he, she, it, they.

Sentence	Tag
She is a doctor,	isn't she?
You aren't busy,	are you?
They have finished,	haven't they?
He can swim,	can't he?
We will be late,	won't we?
You like coffee,	don't you?
She lives here,	doesn't she?
They went home,	didn't they?
You didn't call,	did you?

Negative tags are almost always contracted: isn't, don't, can't, won't. See English contractions if you need a refresher.

Tags with Different Tenses

Tense	Example
Present simple (be)	It's expensive, isn't it?
Present simple (other verbs)	You work here, don't you?
Present continuous	They're coming, aren't they?
Past simple (be)	The film was good, wasn't it?
Past simple (other verbs)	She passed the exam, didn't she?
Present perfect	You've been to Rome, haven't you?
Future	It will rain, won't it?
Modals	We should go, shouldn't we?

What are the special cases for question tags?

1. I am, aren't I?

• I'm right, aren't I? (not "amn't I")
• I'm not late, am I?

2. Let's ... shall we?

• Let's go to the beach, shall we?

3. Imperatives: will you? or won't you?

• Close the door, will you? (request)
• Sit down, won't you? (friendly invitation)
• Don't forget, will you?

4. Negative words without not. Words like never, nobody, nothing, hardly and rarely make the sentence negative, so the tag is positive.

• You never eat breakfast, do you?
• Nobody called, did they?
• Nothing happened, did it?

5. Everyone, someone, nobody take they.

• Everyone is here, aren't they?
• Someone left this bag, didn't they?

6. This and that become it; these and those become they.

• That's your car, isn't it?
• These are yours, aren't they?

7. There is, there are.

• There's a problem, isn't there?
• There aren't any tickets left, are there?

8. Have as a main verb. Use do in modern English: "You have a car, don't you?" "Haven't you?" is heard in some traditional British English, mainly with have got: "You've got a car, haven't you?"

How does intonation change a question tag?

The way you say the tag changes its meaning.

Intonation	Meaning	Example
Falling (voice goes down)	I'm fairly sure; I want you to agree.	It's a lovely day, isn't it? (falling)
Rising (voice goes up)	I'm not sure; it's a real question.	You're from Spain, aren't you? (rising)

Falling tags are very common in small talk. "Lovely weather, isn't it?" is not really a question; it is a friendly way to start a conversation. Learn more in our guide to small talk in English.

How do you answer a question tag?

Answer based on the facts, not on the tag. This is different from some languages, so be careful.

• A: You aren't coming, are you?

• B: No, I'm not. (I'm not coming.)

• B: Yes, I am. (I am coming.)

• A: You're Turkish, aren't you?

• B: Yes, I am.

Many learners say "Yes" to agree with a negative sentence, but in English "Yes" always means the positive fact is true.

A note for Turkish speakers

Turkish uses one fixed tag, değil mi, for every sentence: "Soğuk, değil mi?" English changes the tag each time to match the verb and subject. Turkish speakers also often answer "Evet" to agree with a negative statement ("Evet, gelmiyorum"). In English that answer is "No, I'm not coming."

Same-Way Tags

Sometimes a positive sentence has a positive tag. This shows surprise, interest or sarcasm, and the voice rises.

• So you're the new manager, are you?
• Oh, you've bought a new car, have you?

This is less common. Learn the opposite-tag rule first.

What are the most common question tag mistakes?

Mistake	Wrong	Right
Same polarity in a normal question	It's hot, is it?	It's hot, isn't it?
Wrong auxiliary	She lives in Paris, isn't she?	She lives in Paris, doesn't she?
Repeating the noun	Your sister is a nurse, isn't your sister?	Your sister is a nurse, isn't she?
Amn't I	I'm right, amn't I?	I'm right, aren't I?
Wrong tense	You saw it, don't you?	You saw it, didn't you?
Answering the tag, not the fact	You're not hungry, are you? Yes. (meaning not hungry)	No, I'm not.

Practice Quiz

Add the correct question tag.

1. You're a student, ___?
2. She doesn't eat meat, ___?
3. They went to Antalya, ___?
4. He can't drive, ___?
5. I'm next, ___?
6. Let's start, ___?
7. Nobody knows, ___?
8. You've met Ayşe, ___?

Answers: 1. aren't you 2. does she 3. didn't they 4. can he 5. aren't I 6. shall we 7. do they 8. haven't you

Question tags make your speech warmer and more natural. Practice them in conversation-based lessons in the LearnLingo B1 course, and keep your question skills strong with how to ask questions in English.

People Also Ask

What is a question tag?

A question tag is a short question at the end of a sentence, such as isn't it or don't you. We use it to check information or to invite the listener to agree.

What is the rule for question tags?

A positive sentence takes a negative tag, and a negative sentence takes a positive tag. Use the same auxiliary verb as the sentence, or do, does or did if there is none.

What is the question tag for I am?

The tag for I am is aren't I. For example: I'm late, aren't I? In the negative, it is am I: I'm not late, am I?

Related Reading

• How to Ask Questions in English
• How to Make Small Talk in English
• English Contractions: I'm, Don't, Can't
• How to Improve Your English Speaking