QUESTION TAGS
What is it?
● A question tag is a short question at the end
of a statement.
● Question tags are used when asking for
agreement or confirmation.
With the verb “TO BE”:
Repeat it in the question tag, but change the order:
isn’t she
She’s a teacher, ______________?
are they
These earrings aren’t yours, _______________?
weren’t you
You were here last night, ________________?
wasn’t she
She was really happy, _________________?
WATCH!!!
aren’t I
I am a good listener, ________________?
With Simple tenses:
You use auxiliary verbs DO, DOES, DID (depends if it’s Present or Past Simple).
doesn’t he
He tries very hard, _____________?
do they
They don’t work here, __________________?
didn’t you
You ate pizza last night, ___________________?
did she
She didn’t go to the cinema, ________________?
With Continuous tenses:
You use the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ (am, is, are; was, were – depends if it’s Present or
Past Continuous).
isn’t it
The dog’s barking, ____________?
are we
We aren’t going out tonight, ___________?
wasn’t she
She was reading last night, _____________?
were you
You weren’t listening to me, ___________?
With Perfect tenses:
You use the auxiliary verb HAVE or HAS, depending on the person.
haven’t they
They’ve been here for an hour, ________________?
has she
She hasn’t phoned yet, __________?
With modal verbs:
You use the same modal verb but change the order.
can’t you
You can run fast, ____________?
mustn’t we
We must be quiet, _____________?
shouldn’t I
I should see the doctor, ____________?
could you
You couldn’t swim when you were 2, ____________?
With WILL future:
You use will/won’t, but change the order.
won’t you
You’ll look after him, _______________?
will they
They won’t be late, ________________?
With Let’s:
You use SHALL WE.
shall we
Let’s go on a picnic, _________? Let’s get
shall we
Let’s not talk about this again, ___________? married,
shall we?
With IMPERATIVES (commands or
strong suggestions):
You use WON’T YOU or WILL YOU (sometimes also CAN, COULD or WOULD).
won’t you
Sit down, ___________?→ polite invitation
won’t you
Open the window, ______________? Read aloud,
will you
Don’t go outside, ______________? won’t you?
will you
Keep quiet, _____________?
With EVERY-, SOME-, ANY-, NOBODY:
You use THEY:
do they
No one cares, ____________?
didn’t they
Everyone left, ____________?
haven’t they
Somebody’s left a bag here, _______________?
Everyone knows the
answer, don’t they?
With EVERY-, SOME-, NOTHING:
You use IT.
isn’t it
Everything’s OK, __________?
Nothing matches,
Nothing matters, does it
__________? does it?
Let’s practice!
• Multiple choice
• Which sentence goes with the tag?
Open your books on page 51 “QUESTION TAGS Grammar Bank”