Question Tags
What Are Question Tags?
Question tags are short questions added at the end of statements to seek confirmation or
agreement. In English grammar, they use an auxiliary verb and a matching pronoun.
Example: “It’s easy, isn’t it?” They are common in exams, classroom speaking, and
daily English.
Rules for Question Tags
If the statement is positive, use a negative question tag.
If it is negative, use a positive tag.
The auxiliary verb in the tag must match the tense of the main verb.
The pronoun in the tag must match the statement’s subject.
For imperatives, use “will you?” or “won’t you?” depending on tone.
For “let’s”, always use “shall we?”.
With “I am”, use “aren’t I?”
Sentences with “nobody”, “nothing”, or “none” take a positive tag.
Common Question Tag Examples
Statement Question Tag
She likes music doesn’t she?
You aren’t tired are you?
They will come won’t they?
He didn’t win did he?
Let’s have lunch shall we?
You can swim can’t you?
The cat is sleeping isn’t it?
You have finished haven’t you?
I am early aren’t I?
Close the window will you?
Verbs and Their Corresponding Question Tags
Forming question tags is one of the easily comprehensible grammatical components in
the English language. However, there are some exceptions. Check out the following table
to have a clear idea of the verb and its question tag.
Positive Statement – Negative Tag Negative Statement – Positive Tag
Subject + Question Tag + Subject + Verb Question Tag + Pronoun
Verb Pronoun
Simple Present Tense
I am Aren’t I? I am not Am I?
You are Aren’t you? You are not Are you?
He is Isn’t he? He is not Is he?
She is Isn’t she? She is not Is she?
It is Isn’t it? It is not Is it?
They are Aren’t they? They are not Are they?
We are Aren’t we? We are not Are we?
Simple Past Tense
I was Wasn’t I? I was not Was I?
You were Weren’t you? You were not Were you?
He was Wasn’t he? He was not Was he?
She was Wasn’t she? She was not Was she?
It was Wasn’t it? It was not Was it?
They were Weren’t they? They were not Were they?
We were Weren’t we? We were not Were we?
Simple Future Tense
I will Won’t I? I will not Will I?
You will Won’t you? You will not Will you?
He will Won’t he? He will not Will he?
She will Won’t she? She will not Will she?
It will Won’t it It will not Will it?
They will Won’t they? They will not Will they?
We will Won’t we? We will not Will we?
Present Perfect Tense
I have Haven’t I? I have not Have I?
You have Haven’t you? You have not Have you?
He has Hasn’t he? He has not Has he?
She has Hasn’t she? She has not Has she?
It has Hasn’t it? It has not Has it?
They have Haven’t they? They have not Have they?
We have Haven’t we? We have not Have we?
Past Perfect Tense
I had Hadn’t I? I had not Had I?
You had Hadn’t you? You had not Had you?
He had Hadn’t he? He had not Had he?
She had Hadn’t she? She had not Had she?
It had Hadn’t it? It had not Had it?
They had Hadn’t they? They had not Had they?
We had Hadn’t we? We had not Had we?
Future Perfect Tense
I will have Won’t I? I will not have Will I?
You will have Won’t you? You will not have Will you?
He will have Won’t he? He will not have Will he?
She will have Won’t she? She will not have Will she?
It will have Won’t it It will not have Will it?
They will Won’t they? They will not Will they?
have have
We will have Won’t we? We will not have Will we?
Sentence with Modal Verbs
I/You/We/They/He/ Wouldn’t I/You/We/They/He/ Would I/you/we/they/he/
I/you/we/they/he/
She/It would She/It wouldn’t she/it?
she/it?
I/You/We/They/He/ Couldn’t I/You/We/They/He/ Could I/you/we/they/he/
I/you/we/they/he/
She/It could She/It couldn’t she/it?
she/it?
I/You/We/They/He/ Mustn’t I/You/We/They/He/ Must I/you/we/they/he/
I/you/we/they/he/
She/It must She/It mustn’t she/it?
she/it?
I/You/We/They/He/ Shouldn’t I/You/We/They/He/ Should I/you/we/they/he/
I/you/we/they/he/
She/It should She/It shouldn’t she/it?
she/it?
I/You/We/They/He/ Can’t I/You/We/They/He/ Can I/you/we/they/he/
I/you/we/they/he/
She/It can She/It can’t she/it?
she/it?
Sentence with Action Verb in the Simple Past Tense
I/You/We/They Don’t I/You/We/They do Do I/you/we/they?
like I/you/we/they? not like
He/She likes Doesn’t he/she? He/She does not Does he/she?
like
It rings Doesn’t it? It does not ring Does it?
Sentence with Action Verb in the Simple Past Tense
I/You/We/They Didn’t I/You/We/They did Did I/you/we/they?
liked I/you/we/they? not like
He/She liked Didn’t he/she? He/She did not like Did he/she?
It rang Didn’t it? It did not ring Did it?
Examples of Sentences with Question Tags
Positive Statements with Negative Question Tags
Shahina is the new lead, isn’t she?
They have confirmed, haven’t they?
Tharun and Varun are on their way to the airport, aren’t they?
Her father is a doctor, isn’t he?
The baby elephant that fell into the well was rescued by the locals, wasn’t it?
Arranging transport and accommodation for the guests had been their first
priority, hadn’t it?
You like cookies, don’t you?
Bring me some tissue papers, will you?
They bought a new LED television, didn’t they?
You have been looking for an apartment, haven’t you?
Negative Statements with Positive Question Tags
Ritu and Brinha were not the best of friends from the start, were they?
Sheena will not be attending the ceremony, will she?
She would not have done that, would she?
They have not arrived yet, have they?
Buying a new car when you already had a loan wasn’t a good idea, was it?
Making small talk isn’t your forte, is it?
Balu, the bear isn’t the one that saves Mowgli from the monkeys, is it?
All students have not submitted their assignments yet, have they?
Tina had not informed the others about the change of venue, had she?
You cannot survive without your phone, can you?
Positive Statements with Positive Question Tags to Express Interest, Anger and Surprise
She is going ahead with her decision, is she?
So they are moving to Italy, are they?
You think this is a joke, do you?
You’re just going to sit there, are you?
So this is the way it is going to be from now on, is it?