ADVANCED GRAMMAR: QUESTION TAGS

Definition & Concept

Concept: A question tag is a mini-question that is added to the end of a statement. Its primary purpose is to ask for confirmation or to check if the other person agrees with the statement. It essentially turns a statement into a question.

Where and How They Are Used

Question tags are very common in spoken English. In competitive exams, they are frequently tested in "Fill in the Blanks" and "Sentence Correction" sections. The key is to correctly identify the helping verb and the pronoun required for the tag.

  • Statement: It's a beautiful day.
  • Question Tag: ..., isn't it?
  • Full Sentence: It's a beautiful day, isn't it?

Rules & Syntax

Core Rule: The Rule of Opposites

  • If the main statement is **positive**, the question tag must be **negative**.
  • If the main statement is **negative**, the question tag must be **positive**.

Syntax: `Helping Verb + Pronoun?`

  • **Helping Verb:** The tag uses the same helping verb (or modal) from the main statement (e.g., `is`, `are`, `has`, `have`, `will`, `can`). If there is no helping verb (as in simple present/past), use a form of `do` (`do`, `does`, `did`).
  • **Pronoun:** The tag always uses a pronoun (`I`, `you`, `he`, `she`, `it`, `we`, `they`) that matches the subject of the statement.

How to Identify the Correct Tag

Follow this 3-step process to form any question tag correctly.

A 3-Step Guide

  1. Check if the statement is positive or negative. This will determine if your tag should be positive or negative. Remember that words like `never`, `hardly`, `seldom`, `nobody`, `nothing` make a statement negative.
  2. Identify the helping verb or main verb.
    • If there's a helping verb (`is`, `are`, `was`, `have`, `will`, `can`, etc.), use the same verb in the tag.
    • If there's only a main verb, use `do`, `does`, or `did` based on the tense.
  3. Identify the subject and replace it with a pronoun.
    • 'The boy' → `he`
    • 'The cars' → `they`
    • 'Mary' → `she`
    • 'This' or 'That' → `it`

100 Examples of Question Tags

    Basic Rules: Simple Tenses

  1. He is a doctor, isn't he?
    Positive `is` → Negative `isn't`. Subject `He` → pronoun `he`.
  2. She isn't coming, is she?
    Negative `isn't` → Positive `is`. Subject `She` → pronoun `she`.
  3. They play cricket, don't they?
    Simple present verb `play` → `don't`. Subject `They` → pronoun `they`.
  4. He likes coffee, doesn't he?
    Singular present verb `likes` → `doesn't`. Subject `He` → pronoun `he`.
  5. You don't know the answer, do you?
    Negative `don't know` → Positive `do`. Subject `You` → pronoun `you`.
  6. She went to the market, didn't she?
    Simple past verb `went` → `didn't`. Subject `She` → pronoun `she`.
  7. They didn't complete the task, did they?
    Negative `didn't complete` → Positive `did`. Subject `They` → pronoun `they`.
  8. The cat sleeps a lot, doesn't it?
    Verb `sleeps` → `doesn't`. Subject `The cat` → pronoun `it`.
  9. Your brother works hard, doesn't he?
    Verb `works` → `doesn't`. Subject `Your brother` → pronoun `he`.
  10. The children made a mess, didn't they?
    Verb `made` → `didn't`. Subject `The children` → pronoun `they`.
  11. We don't have a choice, do we?
  12. The sun sets in the west, doesn't it?
  13. She sings beautifully, doesn't she?
  14. He didn't recognize me, did he?
  15. They live in London, don't they?

    16. Basic Rules: Continuous Tenses

  16. We are studying, aren't we?
    Helping verb `are` is used in the tag.
  17. He was sleeping, wasn't he?
    Helping verb `was` is used in the tag.
  18. They weren't playing, were they?
    Negative `weren't` takes positive `were`.
  19. She is writing a letter, isn't she?
  20. You are listening to me, aren't you?
  21. It was raining heavily, wasn't it?
  22. The students were not paying attention, were they?
  23. I am working on it, aren't I? (Special Case)

    24. Basic Rules: Perfect Tenses

  24. She has finished her work, hasn't she?
    Helping verb `has` is used in the tag.
  25. They have arrived, haven't they?
    Helping verb `have` is used in the tag.
  26. He hadn't left, had he?
    Negative `hadn't` takes positive `had`.
  27. You had seen it before, hadn't you?
    Helping verb `had` is used in the tag.
  28. We have been working hard, haven't we?
  29. It has been raining, hasn't it?
  30. She has not submitted the report, has she?
  31. They had already eaten, hadn't they?
  32. He has never been to Paris, has he?
    'never' makes the statement negative, so the tag is positive.
  33. You have completed the course, haven't you?
  34. The project has been approved, hasn't it?
  35. She had never met him, had she?

    36. Modals

  36. He can swim, can't he?
    Modal 'can' is used in the tag.
  37. She will come tomorrow, won't she?
    The negative tag for 'will' is 'won't'.
  38. We should go now, shouldn't we?
    Modal 'should' is used in the tag.
  39. They must follow the rules, mustn't they?
    Modal 'must' is used in the tag.
  40. You couldn't do it, could you?
    Negative 'couldn't' takes positive 'could'.
  41. It wouldn't be a problem, would it?
    Negative 'wouldn't' takes positive 'would'.
  42. She may come, mayn't she?
    The formal tag for 'may' is 'mayn't'.
  43. He might pass the exam, mightn't he?
  44. You ought to help, shouldn't you?
    The tag for 'ought to' is usually 'shouldn't'.
  45. We shall proceed, shan't we?
    The tag for 'shall' is 'shan't'.
  46. He can't drive, can he?
  47. They won't complain, will they?
  48. I should not have done that, should I?
  49. He would like a coffee, wouldn't he?
  50. We could try again, couldn't we?
  51. She might not agree, might she?
  52. You must not touch that, must you?
  53. It will be fine, won't it?
  54. He cannot be trusted, can he?
  55. We must hurry, mustn't we?

    56. Special Cases

  56. I am late, aren't I?
    Special Case: The tag for a positive 'I am' statement is 'aren't I?'.
  57. I'm not bothering you, am I?
    Special Case: The tag for 'I am not' is the standard 'am I?'.
  58. Let's go for a walk, shall we?
    Special Case: Suggestions with 'Let's' (Let us) always take the tag 'shall we?'.
  59. Let us go, will you?
    Special Case: When 'Let us' means 'allow us' to do something, the tag is 'will you?'.
  60. Close the door, will you?
    Special Case: Imperatives (commands) take the tag 'will you?'.
  61. Please help me, won't you?
    Special Case: Polite requests often use 'won't you?'.
  62. Don't make a noise, will you?
    Negative imperatives take a positive 'will you?' tag.
  63. Everybody has come, haven't they?
    Special Case: 'Everybody' is grammatically singular ('has') but logically plural, so the pronoun in the tag is 'they'.
  64. Someone is at the door, aren't they?
    Special Case: 'Someone' is singular ('is') but takes the plural pronoun 'they' and the corresponding verb 'are' in the tag.
  65. Nobody called, did they?
    Special Case: 'Nobody' is negative, so it takes a positive tag. It also uses the plural pronoun 'they'.
  66. Nothing was lost, was it?
    Special Case: 'Nothing' is negative and refers to a thing, so it takes a positive tag with the pronoun 'it'.
  67. No one was present, were they?
    'No one' is negative and takes 'they' as the pronoun. The verb 'were' matches 'they'.
  68. Something is wrong, isn't it?
    'Something' is singular and takes 'it' as the pronoun.
  69. He hardly ever speaks, does he?
    Special Case: Negative adverbs like 'hardly', 'seldom', 'rarely' make the statement negative, requiring a positive tag.
  70. She seldom visits, does she?
    'seldom' is a negative word, so the tag is positive.
  71. They rarely eat out, do they?
    'rarely' is a negative word, so the tag is positive.
  72. This is your car, isn't it?
    Special Case: The subject 'This' takes the pronoun 'it' in the tag.
  73. That was a mistake, wasn't it?
    The subject 'That' takes the pronoun 'it'.
  74. These are my books, aren't they?
    The subject 'These' takes the pronoun 'they'.
  75. Those weren't your friends, were they?
    The subject 'Those' takes the pronoun 'they'.
  76. There is a problem, isn't there?
    Special Case: Sentences starting with 'There' use 'there' as the subject in the tag.
  77. There were many people, weren't there?
    The verb and subject 'there' are repeated from the statement.
  78. There is no water, is there?
    'no' makes the statement negative.
  79. He has a car, doesn't he?
    Special Case: When 'has' is the main verb (possession), the tag uses 'do/does'.
  80. They have lunch at 1 PM, don't they?
    Special Case: When 'have' is a main verb, use 'do/don't'.
  81. She had a great time, didn't she?
    When 'had' is a main verb in the past, use 'did/didn't'.
  82. He has to go, doesn't he?
    'has to' functions like a simple present verb.
  83. They have to study, don't they?
    'have to' functions like a simple present verb.
  84. He used to live here, didn't he?
    Special Case: For 'used to', the tag is 'didn't'.
  85. One must do one's duty, mustn't one?
    The subject 'one' is repeated in the tag.
  86. The jury has given its verdict, hasn't it?
    A collective noun acting as a unit is singular ('it').
  87. The team are fighting, aren't they?
    A collective noun acting as individuals is plural ('they').
  88. A few people were present, weren't they?
    'A few' is positive, so it takes a negative tag.
  89. Few people were present, were they?
    'Few' is negative, so it takes a positive tag.
  90. A little sugar was added, wasn't it?
    'A little' is positive.
  91. Little progress has been made, has it?
    'Little' is negative.
  92. The police are on their way, aren't they?
    'Police' is a plural noun.
  93. The cattle are grazing, aren't they?
    'Cattle' is a plural noun.
  94. The United States is a powerful country, isn't it?
    A single country is referred to as 'it'.
  95. Everything is fine, isn't it?
    'Everything' is singular and takes 'it'.
  96. The news was shocking, wasn't it?
    'News' is singular.
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