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Question tags are those short questions we add to the end of a sentence, like “You’re coming, aren’t you?” or “It’s cold, isn’t it?” They make English sound more natural and conversational. On this page, you’ll learn how to use question tags correctly, see useful examples, and practise with fun quizzes to boost your confidence in everyday English.
What Are Question Tags?
You want to know what a question tag is, don’t you? Well, read on! A question tag changes a statement into a question by adding a short clause at the end. These short questions usually contain two words, such as ‘wasn’t he?’ or ‘don’t we?’. Question tags require a response, so the listener must engage and answer accordingly. They usually repeat the auxiliary or modal verb from the sentence.
Here are some examples:
- You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
- She doesn’t like coffee, does she?
- They’ve finished their homework, haven’t they?
- It was raining earlier, wasn’t it?
- You can swim, can’t you?
How to Form Question Tags
Forming question tags in English is simple once you know the pattern. A question tag is made up of an auxiliary or modal verb and a pronoun that matches the subject of the main sentence. The tag is positive if the statement is negative, and negative if the statement is positive.
For example:
- She’s coming, isn’t she?
- You don’t like coffee, do you?
- They can swim, can’t they?
If the main sentence doesn’t already have an auxiliary verb, we use do, does, or did to form the question tag.
For example:
- You work here, don’t you?
- He played football, didn’t he?
The key is to make sure the verb tense and pronoun in the tag match the main clause.
Common Auxiliary and Modal Verbs Used in Tags
When forming question tags, we usually use auxiliary and modal verbs from the main sentence. These small helper verbs make the tag match the tense and meaning of the statement. Here are some of the most common auxiliary and modal verbs you’ll see in question tags, along with examples to help you understand how they work.
The verb ‘be’ is one of the most common auxiliaries used in question tags. It changes depending on the tense and subject of the main clause.
For example:
- I’m next in line, aren’t I?
- She’s your sister, isn’t she?
- They weren’t here, were they?
Remember, if the statement is positive, the tag should be negative, and vice versa.
Using the Verb ‘Have’ in Question Tags
The verb ‘have’ can be used in question tags in a few different ways, depending on whether it’s acting as a main verb or an auxiliary verb. When ‘have’ is used as an auxiliary (for example, in perfect tenses), we simply repeat it in the tag. But when ‘have’ is the main verb, especially in British English, we can use ‘do/does/did’ to form the tag.
For Example:
- You’ve finished your work, haven’t you?
- She’s had enough, hasn’t she?
- They’ve gone home, haven’t they?
- You have a car, don’t you?
- He has a dog, doesn’t he?
- We had dinner early, didn’t we?
These examples show how ‘have’ can change depending on its function in the sentence.
Using the Verb ‘Do’ in Question Tags
When there’s no auxiliary or modal verb in the main sentence, we use do, does, or did to form the question tag. This usually happens with simple present and simple past tenses.
For example, You like pizza, don’t you? or They didn’t call you, did they? The verb do changes according to the subject and tense — do for plural or I/you/we/they, does for singular he/she/it, and did for the past tense.
Here are some more examples:
- You play football, don’t you?
- She works here, doesn’t she?
- They didn’t finish their homework, did they?
- He doesn’t like coffee, does he?
- We went there yesterday, didn’t we?
Using Modal Verbs in Question Tags
Modal verbs are very common in question tags. We use them to show ability, possibility, obligation, or certainty. The rule is simple: if the main clause uses a modal verb, the tag repeats it. For example, “You can swim, can’t you?”, “We must keep practising, mustn’t we?”, or “She won’t forget, will she?”. Modal verbs often make tags sound friendly or conversational, which is why they’re used so often in spoken English.
Special Rules and Exceptions
Some question tags don’t follow the usual rules, so it’s important to learn these special cases.
1. With “I am”
Use aren’t I, not am I not.
Example: I’m right, aren’t I?
2. Imperatives (commands and requests)
Use will you, won’t you, can you, or could you, depending on tone or politeness.
Examples: Pass the salt, will you? or Be quiet, won’t you? or Help me, could you?
3. Let’s
Use shall we after “let’s”.
Example: Let’s go, shall we?
4. Negative words (never, nobody, nothing, etc.)
These make the sentence negative, so the question tag is positive.
Example: Nobody called, did they?
5. With “used to”
Use didn’t (not usedn’t).
Example: You used to live here, didn’t you?
6. With modal verbs
Repeat the same modal in the tag.
Examples: You can drive, can’t you? or He shouldn’t go, should he?
7. With “there is/are”
Use isn’t there, aren’t there, and so on.
Example: There’s a shop nearby, isn’t there?
8. With indefinite pronouns (someone, everyone, etc.)
Use they in the tag.
Examples: Someone called, didn’t they? or Everybody’s ready, aren’t they?
9. Conditional or suggestion sentences
Use the same auxiliary in the tag to match the meaning.
Example: You’d like some tea, wouldn’t you?
Intonation in Question Tags
Intonation plays a big role in how question tags sound and what they mean. When the voice rises at the end, it usually shows that the speaker is really asking a question and wants confirmation, like “You’re coming, aren’t you?”. When the voice falls, it means the speaker is sure of the answer and is just checking agreement, like “It’s cold today, isn’t it?”. Understanding this difference helps you sound more natural and confident in English conversations.
Question Tags Practice Quizzes
Ready to test your knowledge? Try these fun and interactive quizzes to practise using question tags correctly. They’re a great way to build confidence and improve your grammar skills. Don’t forget to visit our YouTube channel for more short English lessons and grammar quizzes.
More English Grammar Practice
Keep building your grammar skills with more interactive lessons and quizzes! Explore popular topics like Be Used To vs Used To, Modal Verbs, Helping Verbs, and Tense Structures – all designed to test your knowledge and boost your confidence. Visit our YouTube channel to find all our ESL and EFL grammar quizzes, pronunciation lessons, and useful English practice videos.
Conclusion
Question tags make your English sound friendly, confident, and natural. The more you practise them, the easier they become to use without even thinking. Try listening to native speakers and repeating what they say to get used to the rhythm and tone.
If you want to keep improving your English, visit my YouTube channel for more free ESL and EFL grammar lessons, pronunciation quizzes, and fun learning videos. Keep practising and you’ll sound more fluent every day!