Question tags are short questions added to the end of a sentence. They are used to confirm information, check agreement, or seek a response from the listener.
In simple words: A question tag turns a statement into a short question.
Example:
You are coming, aren’t you?
They are very common in spoken English and help keep a conversation active and friendly.
Structure of Question Tags
A question tag has two parts:
An auxiliary (helping) verb
A subject pronoun
Basic Formula:
[Statement] + [Auxiliary Verb + Subject Pronoun]?
Rules for Making Question Tags
1. If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
She is a teacher, isn’t she?
They have finished the work, haven’t they?
2. If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.
He isn’t at home, is he?
You don’t like coffee, do you?
3. Use the correct auxiliary (helping) verb from the main sentence.
You can swim, can’t you?
She has eaten, hasn’t she?
They were late, weren’t they?
4. If there’s no auxiliary verb in the statement, use “do / does / did” in the tag.
You play guitar, don’t you?
He works hard, doesn’t he?
She went to school, didn’t she?
5. Use pronouns in the tag.
Ravi is smart, isn’t he?
The children are playing, aren’t they?
Special Cases in Question Tags
1. Imperative Sentences (Commands or Requests):
Close the door, will you?
Don’t be late, will you? (still uses “will you” even if negative)
2. Let’s Sentences:
Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
3. I am Statements:
I am your friend, aren’t I? (special case: “aren’t I”, not “amn’t I”)
4. Nothing / Nobody / None:
These are treated as negative, so tags are positive.
Nothing is wrong, is it?
Nobody came, did they?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
You are a teacher, is you? (wrong)
You are a teacher, aren’t you?
He don’t like tea, does he? (wrong verb form)
He doesn’t like tea, does he?
Why Are Question Tags Important?
They make conversations interactive.
They show politeness and confirm understanding.
They are commonly used in real-life English communication, especially in British English.
Practice Examples
She is your sister, isn’t she?
You didn’t call him, did you?
We can meet tomorrow, can’t we?
He plays cricket, doesn’t he?
Let’s start the meeting, shall we?
Tips
Match the verb tense in the tag with the sentence.
Always use the subject pronoun in the tag (not the name).
Practice question tags by listening to native speakers and repeating aloud.