Definition of Question Tags and Usage with Examples

Key Features of Question Tags

• Structure: A question tag typically includes an auxiliary verb and a pronoun that agrees with the subject of the main sentence. For example, "She is coming, isn't she?"

• Function: They are used to confirm information or express uncertainty, and they often encourage a response from the listener.

• Tone: The tone of the question tag can affect its meaning. For example, "You’re joining us, aren’t you?" implies a positive expectation, while "You’re not joining us, are you?" implies doubt or concern.

Examples:

1. Affirmative Sentence with Negative Tag: "You are coming to the party, aren't you?"

2. Negative Sentence with Affirmative Tag: "You don't like spicy food, do you?"

List of Commonly Used Question Tags

Forming and Using Question Tags in Sentences

Question tags are short phrases added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question, usually seeking confirmation or agreement. They are formed using an auxiliary verb and a pronoun, and the polarity (positive/negative) of the tag typically contrasts with that of the main statement.

Rules for Forming Question Tags

1. Matching the Tense:

• The auxiliary verb in the question tag must match the tense of the main sentence.

• Example: "You are coming, aren’t you?" (Present tense)

2. Polarity:

• If the main sentence is positive, the question tag is negative, and vice versa.

• Example: "She can swim, can’t she?" (Positive statement, negative tag)

• "You don’t like coffee, do you?" (Negative statement, positive tag)

3. Using the Correct Pronoun:

• The pronoun in the question tag must match the subject of the main sentence.

• Example: "John is here, isn’t he?" (John = he)

• "The dogs are barking, aren’t they?" (Dogs = they)

4. Special Cases:

• I am: The question tag is "aren’t I?" (e.g., "I am right, aren’t I?")

• Let’s: The question tag is "shall we?" (e.g., "Let’s go, shall we?")

• Imperatives: Use "will you?" or "won’t you?" depending on the tone (e.g., "Open the door, will you?").

Examples of Using Question Tags in Sentences

1. Simple Present Tense:

• "You like chocolate, don’t you?"

• "He works hard, doesn’t he?"

2. Simple Past Tense:

• "They went to the movie, didn’t they?"

• "She didn’t see the sign, did she?"

3. Present Continuous Tense:

• "They are playing football, aren’t they?"

• "She isn’t studying, is she?"

4. Past Continuous Tense:

• "You were sleeping, weren’t you?"

• "He wasn’t listening, was he?"

5. Present Perfect Tense:

• "You have finished your homework, haven’t you?"

• "They haven’t left yet, have they?"

6. Future Tense:

• "She will join us later, won’t she?"

• "They won’t be late, will they?"

7. Modals:

• "You can drive, can’t you?"

• "They shouldn’t be here, should they?"

Review Your Understanding on Question Tags

Here are some exercises for students to practice using question tags:

1. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences by adding the correct question tag.

1. You’re coming to the party, __________?

2. She doesn’t like coffee, __________?

3. They were excited about the trip, __________?

4. It’s raining outside, __________?

5. We’ve met before, __________?

2. Identify and Correct Errors

Find and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. He can’t drive, can he?

2. They are not ready yet, aren’t they?

3. You finished the assignment, didn’t you?

4. She was at the concert, wasn’t she?

5. The cat isn’t hungry, is it?

3. Match the Sentences

Match each statement with the correct question tag.

Statements:

1. She is a great cook.

2. You will join us for dinner.

3. They haven’t arrived yet.

4. John can play the guitar.

5. We should start the meeting.

Tags: a. won’t you? b. should we? c. isn’t she? d. can’t he? e. have they?

4. Create Your Own

Write sentences using the given main statements and add appropriate question tags.

1. Main Statement: “The book is interesting.”

2. Main Statement: “You don’t know the answer.”

3. Main Statement: “They have been waiting for hours.”

4. Main Statement: “She will help with the project.”

5. Main Statement: “It was a challenging exam.”

5. Fill in the Blanks with Context

Fill in the blanks with the correct question tag based on the context.

1. “You didn’t enjoy the movie, __________?” (implies a negative response is expected)

2. “They are always on time, __________?” (implies a positive response is expected)

3. “He hasn’t finished his work, __________?” (implies a negative response is expected)

4. “We should get going, __________?” (implies a positive response is expected)

5. “She’s been working hard, __________?” (implies a positive response is expected)

Check the Answers Below:

1. Fill in the Blanks

1. You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?

2. She doesn’t like coffee, does she?

3. They were excited about the trip, weren’t they?

4. It’s raining outside, isn’t it?

5. We’ve met before, haven’t we?

2. Identify and Correct Errors

1. He can’t drive, can he? (Correct)

2. They are not ready yet, are they? (Corrected from "aren’t they")

3. You finished the assignment, didn’t you? (Correct)

4. She was at the concert, wasn’t she? (Correct)

5. The cat isn’t hungry, is it? (Corrected from "is it")

3. Match the Sentences

1. She is a great cook. c. isn’t she

2. You will join us for dinner. a. won’t you

3. They haven’t arrived yet. e. have they

4. John can play the guitar. d. can’t he

5. We should start the meeting. b. should we

4. Create Your Own

1. Main Statement: “The book is interesting.” – The book is interesting, isn’t it?

2. Main Statement: “You don’t know the answer.” – You don’t know the answer, do you?

3. Main Statement: “They have been waiting for hours.” – They have been waiting for hours, haven’t they?

4. Main Statement: “She will help with the project.” – She will help with the project, won’t she?

5. Main Statement: “It was a challenging exam.” – It was a challenging exam, wasn’t it?

5. Fill in the Blanks with Context

1. “You didn’t enjoy the movie, did you?”

2. “They are always on time, aren’t they?”

3. “He hasn’t finished his work, has he?”

4. “We should get going, shouldn’t we?”

5. “She’s been working hard, hasn’t she?”

Takeaways on this Page

This page provides a comprehensive overview of question tags, covering their formation, rules, and usage in sentences. Question tags are used to seek confirmation or agreement, and are formed by matching the auxiliary verb and pronoun to the main sentence's tense and polarity. Key rules include ensuring the tag contrasts with the main sentence and using the correct pronoun. The page includes various exercises to practice forming and using question tags, such as filling in blanks, correcting errors, and creating sentences.