Question Tags

Have you ever ended a sentence with a small question like, “Isn’t it?” or “Don’t you?” These are called question tags, and they are commonly used in spoken English to confirm information or seek agreement. In this guide, you will learn the meaning, definition, and usage of question tags, along with examples to help you understand them better.

What Is a Question Tag?

A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to confirm or clarify information. It makes a sentence interactive and encourages a response from the listener.

Definition: 

An auxiliary verb is “a verb such as be, do, and have used with main verbs to show tense, and to form questions and negatives” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary).

Examples:

1. “It’s a sunny day, **isn’t it?”

2. “You don’t like coffee, **do you?”

Definition of a Question Tag

A question tag, also known as a tag question, is defined as follows:

• • Oxford Learner’s Dictionary: “A phrase such as ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘don’t you?’ that you add to the end of a statement to turn it into a question or check that the statement is correct.”
  • Cambridge Dictionary: “A short phrase such as ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘don’t you?’ that is added to the end of a sentence to check information or to ask if someone agrees with you.”

How to Use Question Tags in Sentences

To use question tags correctly, follow these simple rules:

1. Sentence Structure:

• • A sentence with a question tag follows this pattern:
    • Statement, question tag?

2. Punctuation:

• • Begin the sentence with a capital letter, add a comma after the statement, and end with a question mark.

3. Positive and Negative Statements:

• • If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
    • Example: “You are coming, **aren’t you?”
  • If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.
    • Example: “You aren’t coming, **are you?”

4. Pronouns in Tags:

• • • Use the same pronoun in the question tag as in the statement.
      • Example: “The kids are playing, **aren’t they?”

5. Verb Agreement:

• • • Match the auxiliary or modal verb in the statement with the tag.
      • Example: “She can dance, **can’t she?”

6. Special Cases:

• • • Use positive tags for emotional expressions, such as anger, surprise, or interest, even if the statement itself is positive.
      • Example: “You think this is funny, **do you?”
    • Sentences starting with “Nothing” or “Nobody” are treated as negative statements.
      • Example: “Nobody came to the party, **did they?”

Common Verbs and Their Question Tags

Examples of Question Tags

Positive Statements with Negative Tags

1. “You are a student, **aren’t you?”

2. “They have completed their homework, **haven’t they?”

3. “She will attend the meeting, **won’t she?”

Negative Statements with Positive Tags

1. “You don’t like spicy food, **do you?”

2. “He isn’t coming with us, **is he?”

3. “They haven’t finished the project, **have they?”

Special Cases

1. “Nobody called, **did they?”

2. “Nothing is working, **is it?”

3. “You think this is funny, **do you?”

Practice Exercise: Add Question Tags

1. She is your friend, ___________?

2. They didn’t tell you about the plan, ___________?

3. You can’t swim, ___________?

4. It was a beautiful day, ___________?

5. Everyone enjoyed the party, ___________?

Answers:

1. isn’t she?

2. did they?

3. can you?

4. wasn’t it?

5. didn’t they?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a question tag? A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to confirm or clarify information.

Q2: How do I form a question tag? A question tag is formed by using the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement, followed by a pronoun, and ending with a question mark.

Q3: What is the rule for positive and negative statements? Positive statements take negative tags, and negative statements take positive tags.

Q4: Can question tags be used in formal writing? Question tags are commonly used in spoken English and informal writing but can occasionally appear in dialogue or conversational text in formal writing.