Question Tags – Complete Rules (Teacher Notes)
A Question Tag is a short question added at the end of a statement. It is used to
confirm information, seek agreement, or encourage a response.
Formula
• Positive statement → Negative tag
• Negative statement → Positive tag
Examples
• She is a teacher, isn't she?
• He isn't busy, is he?
Rule 1: Positive Statement → Negative Tag
If the sentence is positive, the tag must be negative.
Statement Question Tag
He is a doctor. isn't he?
They are students. aren't they?
She was late. wasn't she?
We have finished. haven't we?
He plays cricket. doesn't he?
Examples:
• She is beautiful, isn't she?
• Ravi likes coffee, doesn't he?
• They were happy, weren't they?
Rule 2: Negative Statement → Positive Tag
If the statement is negative, the tag becomes positive.
Statement Question Tag
He isn't ready. is he?
They don't play. do they?
She can't swim. can she?
We won't go. will we?
Examples:
• He doesn't smoke, does he?
• She isn't angry, is she?
• They weren't present, were they?
Rule 3: Use the Same Auxiliary (Helping Verb)
The helping verb in the sentence must be repeated in the tag.
Helping Verb Tag
is isn't
are aren't
was wasn't
were weren't
have haven't
has hasn't
had hadn't
will won't
would wouldn't
can can't
could couldn't
should shouldn't
must mustn't
Examples:
• She can swim, can't she?
• They have arrived, haven't they?
• He will come, won't he?
Rule 4: If There is No Helping Verb
Use do, does, or did.
Present Simple
• He plays football, doesn't he?
• She sings well, doesn't she?
• They work hard, don't they?
Past Simple
• Ravi visited Delhi, didn't he?
• She wrote a letter, didn't she?
Rule 5: Pronoun Must Match the Subject
Replace the noun with the correct pronoun.
Subject Pronoun
Ravi he
Meera she
Dog it
Book it
Children they
Students they
Raju and Ravi they
I I
Examples:
• Akshay is an actor, isn't he?
• The tiger is dangerous, isn't it?
• Children are playing, aren't they?
Rule 6: "I am" → "Aren't I?"
This is a special rule.
I am late, aren't I?
I am late, amn't I?
Rule 7: Sentences with "Let's"
Use:
Let's + verb → Shall we?
Examples
• Let's go home, shall we?
• Let's begin, shall we?
Rule 8: Imperative Sentences (Commands)
Often use:
• will you?
• won't you?
• can you?
Examples
• Open the door, will you?
• Help me, will you?
• Be quiet, will you?
Rule 9: Negative Words Make the Sentence Negative
Words like
• never
• nobody
• no one
• none
• nothing
• hardly
• scarcely
• rarely
• seldom
are treated as negatives.
Examples
• He never lies, does he?
• Nobody came, did they?
• Nothing happened, did it?
Rule 10: Everybody, Everyone, Someone, Nobody
Use they in the tag.
Examples
• Everyone liked him, didn't they?
• Somebody called, didn't they?
• Nobody knows, do they?
Rule 11: This, That, These, Those
Subject Tag Pronoun
This it
That it
These they
Those they
Examples
• This is yours, isn't it?
• Those are beautiful, aren't they?
Rule 12: There is / There are
Use there again.
Examples
• There is a book, isn't there?
• There were many students, weren't there?
Rule 13: Modal Verbs
Keep the same modal.
Modal Tag
can can't
could couldn't
should shouldn't
would wouldn't
may mayn't (rare)
must mustn't
Examples
• You should study, shouldn't you?
• He can swim, can't he?
• We must leave, mustn't we?
Rule 14: "Used to"
Examples
• He used to smoke, didn't he?
• She used to teach, didn't she?
Rule 15: "Need"
When need is a main verb:
• He needs help, doesn't he?
When need is a modal (rare in modern English):
• Need he go? → Needn't he?
Common Helping Verbs Used in Tags
Sentence Tag
is isn't
are aren't
am aren't
was wasn't
were weren't
do don't
does doesn't
did didn't
has hasn't
have haven't
had hadn't
can can't
could couldn't
will won't
would wouldn't
shall shan't
should shouldn't
must mustn't
Common Mistakes
Ravi can ride a horse, can't she?
Ravi can ride a horse, can't he?
Jazz met his friend in Delhi, doesn't he?
Jazz met his friend in Delhi, didn't he?
The students won't waste time, will he?
The students won't waste time, will they?
Meera doesn't tolerate any mistake, does he?
Meera doesn't tolerate any mistake, does she?
Quick Revision Formula
1. Identify whether the sentence is positive or negative.
2. Find the helping verb.
3. If there is no helping verb, use do/does/did.
4. Change the noun to the correct pronoun.
5. Reverse the polarity:
o Positive → Negative tag
o Negative → Positive tag
6. End the tag with a question mark (?).
Memory Trick
P-A-R-T
• P → Positive becomes Negative Tag
• A → Auxiliary (same helping verb)
• R → Reverse the polarity
• T → Transform the subject into the correct pronoun
This four-step method works correctly for almost every question tag in English
grammar.