Question Tag
Definition
- A question tag is a small question attached to the end of a sentence.
- It turns a statement into a question, often used in conversation to check facts or invite agreement.
- Example: You are a student, aren’t you?
Structure - Statement + Comma + Auxiliary Verb + Subject Pronoun + ?
- Statement: She is a teacher
- Tag: isn’t she?
- Full sentence: She is a teacher, isn’t she?
Rule
1. Auxiliary Verb Rule
- Use the same auxiliary verb (is, are, was, will, can, etc.) from the main sentence in the tag.
- If no auxiliary verb is present, use do/does/did/is/am/are/was/were/have/has/had/will/shall
depending on tense .
2. Positive vs. Negative Tags
- Positive statement → Negative tag
It is raining, isn’t it?
- Negative statement → Positive tag
They aren’t late, are they?
3. Pronoun Agreement
- The pronoun of the tag must match with the subject of the main sentence.
- Example: Bhavi teaches English, doesn’t she? Bhavi teaches English, doesn’t he?
4. Tense Agreement
- The tense of the tag must match the tense of the main sentence.
- Example:
- Present: You like grammar, don’t you?
- Past: They went to school, didn’t they?
- Future: He will come tomorrow, won’t he?
5. Special Cases
- Imperatives: no negative question tag,
- Open the door, will you? - Don’t be late, will you?
- Let’s: - Let’s go, shall we?
- I am: - I am your friend, aren’t I? (not amn’t I)
- nobody,none, anybody, anyone - positive question tag - pronoun always “they”.
- Example: Nobody can count the stars, can they?
- Everybody, everyone, somebody - negative question tag - pronoun always “they”.
- Example: All students will join the tour, can’t they?
Practice
1. You like cricket. 2. She is your best friend. 3. They will arrive soon.
4. You don’t enjoy spicy food. 5. He isn’t at school. 6. They can’t solve this puzzle.
7. Nobody helped you. 8. No one called last night. 9. Nothing is missing.
10. Everybody loves holidays. 11. Someone has taken the book. 13. I am late.
14. I’m your classmate. 15. Let’s go for a picnic. 20. Be quiet.
16. Let’s start the game. 17. He used to play football. 18. They used to live here.
19. Open the window. 21. Few students passed the exam. 22. There’s little hope left.
12. Everyone is ready for the test. 23. A few people attended the meeting.
24. There’s a little sugar in the jar.
✨ Question Tags
1. You like cricket, don’t you?
2. She is your best friend, isn’t she?
3. They will arrive soon, won’t they?
4. You don’t enjoy spicy food, do you?
5. He isn’t at school, is he?
6. They can’t solve this puzzle, can they?
7. Nobody helped you, did they?
8. No one called last night, did they?
9. Nothing is missing, is it?
10. Everybody loves holidays, don’t they?
11. Someone has taken the book, haven’t they?
12. Everyone is ready for the test, aren’t they?
13. I am late, aren’t I?
14. I’m your classmate, aren’t I?
15. Let’s go for a picnic, shall we?
16. Let’s start the game, shall we?
17. He used to play football, didn’t he?
18. They used to live here, didn’t they?
19. Open the window, will you?
20. Be quiet, will you?
21. Few students passed the exam, did they?
22. There’s little hope left, is there?
23. A few people attended the meeting, didn’t they?
24. There’s a little sugar in the jar, isn’t there?