Question Tags
Whenever you say something and then want confirmation, in English we use Question Tags.
For example:
You are going to school, aren’t you?
He didn’t come, did he?
✅ What is a Question Tag?
A Question Tag is a short question added at the end of a statement to confirm whether what we said is correct or not.
It works like a mini-question at the end of a sentence.
Examples:
She is your sister, isn’t she?
They won the match, didn’t they?
🧠 How to Form a Question Tag?
The formula is simple:
Statement + Auxiliary verb (helping verb) + Subject (pronoun)
Rule 1:
If the main sentence is positive, the tag is negative.
Example:
He is a doctor, isn’t he?
(Positive sentence → Negative tag)
Rule 2:
If the main sentence is negative, the tag is positive.
Example:
She doesn’t like tea, does she?
(Negative sentence → Positive tag)
🧾 Common Helping Verbs and Their Tags
| Main Verb | Positive Sentence → Negative Tag | Negative Sentence → Positive Tag |
|---|---|---|
| is | He is smart, isn’t he? | He isn’t smart, is he? |
| are | They are here, aren’t they? | They aren’t here, are they? |
| was | She was late, wasn’t she? | She wasn’t late, was she? |
| have | You have money, haven’t you? | You haven’t money, have you? |
| can | He can swim, can’t he? | He can’t swim, can he? |
| will | You will come, won’t you? | You won’t come, will you? |
| do/does/did | You like it, don’t you? | You don’t like it, do you? |
🎯 Important Points to Remember
🔸 Words like no, never, hardly, rarely, barely in a sentence are considered negative.
Example:
He rarely comes on time, does he?
(Rarely = negative sense)
🔸 Sentences starting with Let’s take the tag shall we?
Example:
Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
🔸 If the sentence has I am, the tag often uses aren’t I (exception to the rule).
Example:
I’m your friend, aren’t I?
✨ Practice Examples:
You are tired, aren’t you?
She doesn’t eat eggs, does she?
They will help us, won’t they?
I’m right, aren’t I?
Let’s play cricket, shall we?
He had gone already, hadn’t he?
✍️ Conclusion
Question Tags make English more natural and conversational.
If you want to speak English fluently, start using this structure in your daily conversations.
Keep practicing, and ask yourself:
I can speak English better now, can’t I? 😊