Forming tag questions
auxiliary verb + subject
- We use the same auxiliary verb in the tag as in the main sentence. If there is no auxiliary verb in the main sentence, we use do in the tag.
- You live in Spain, don’t you?
- If the auxiliary verb in the sentence is affirmative, the tag is negative.
- You’re learning Spanish, aren’t you?
- If the auxiliary verb in the sentence is negative, the tag is affirmative.
- You don’t speak Spanish, do you?
- If the main verb in the sentence is be (am, is, are, was, were), we use this in the tag:
- There is a lot of noise, isn’t there?
- You’re a little late, aren’t you?
Meaning
- We use tag questions to confirm or check information or ask for agreement.
- You want to come with me, don’t you?
- You can swim, can’t you?
- You don’t know where the boss is, do you?
- This meal is horrible, isn’t it?
- That film was fantastic, wasn’t it?
- We use tag questions to check whether something is true.
- The meeting’s tomorrow at 9am, isn’t it?
- You won’t go without me, will you?
Additional points
- In the present form of be: In an affirmative statement, if the subject is “I”, the auxiliary changes to aren’t in the tag.
- I’m sitting next to you, aren’t I?
- I’m a little early, aren’t I?
- With let’s, the tag is shall we?
- Let’s go to the beach, shall we?
- Let’s have a coffee, shall we?
- With an imperative, the tag is will you?
- Close the window, will you?
- Hold this, will you?
- We use an affirmative tag after a sentence containing a negative word such as never, hardly, nobody.
- Nobody lives in this house, do they?
- You’ve never liked me, have you?
- When the subject is nothing, we use “it” in the tag.
- Nothing bad happened, did it?
- Nothing ever happens, does it?
- If the subject is nobody, somebody, everybody, no one, someone or everyone, we use “they” in the tag.
- Nobody asked for me, did they?
- Nobody lives here, do they?
- If the main verb in the sentence is have (not an auxiliary verb), it is more common to use do in the tag.
- You have a Ferrari, don’t you?
- She had a great time, didn’t she?
- With used to, we use “didn’t” in the tag.
- You used to work here, didn’t you?
- He used to have long hair, didn’t he?
- We can use affirmative tags after affirmative sentences to express a reaction such as surprise or interest.
- You’re moving to Brazil, are you?
Pronunciation
- If we don’t know the answer, it is a real question and we use a rising intonation with the tag.
- You don’t know where the boss is, do you? ↗
- If we know the answer and are just confirming the information a falling intonation is used with the tag.
- That film was fantastic, wasn’t it? ↘
624 comments
Albert
What is the correct question tag? There is a man in the room…..
Rumpa
Tag of
the gateman was not a man…?
javahir
was SHE? … laughing
Keith Taylor
The question tag would be like this:
The gateman was not a man, was he?
MAH
What is the tag Q here?
A: I couldn’t stand my boss.
B. couldn’t you? or could you?
Samuel Desta
Could you?
Joel uwamahoro
Hi, my questions are the following.
1. Where is the difference between everybody and every person in the tag question?
E.g. Everybody can clean the chalkboard, …?
Every person can clean the chalkboard, …?
2. How do you say that EVERYTHING takes IT as a subject in tag question? Don’t you understand that there is a plural hidden there?
Help me please!
Anik das
What a shame!…?
pintu
All of us can do it
Reshma
How odd, …?
Mmmmmm
The buses aren’t brand new, …?
Gina
The rooms aren’t ready for the visit, …?
Pratap
Please sir convert this statement into a question tag: ‘He never hid.’
Roy
“None was said” make it tag
Keith Taylor
The little girl is playing piano, isn’t she?
Keith Taylor
Everyone objected to her coming along with us, didn’t they?
(Please note the change in the construction of the sentence).
Rengselin
John hardly ever studies, …?
Keith Taylor
John hardly ever studies, does he?
Akhtar Jan
Sir what will be the tag of all these sentences, please tell me about it so I will be very thankful to you.
I have been called by them.
I had been invited by them.
He has been punished.
He was killed by them.
They were punished.
He will be liked by them.
He will have been punished by them.
He is liked by us.
They are arrested by them.
I am loved by them.
He is being given money by them.
They are being invited.
He was being invited.
They were being beaten.
Keith Taylor
I have been called by them, haven’t I?
I had been invited by them, hadn’t I?
He has been punished, hadn’t he?
He was killed by them. wasn’t he?
They were punished, weren’t they?
He will be liked by them, won’t he?
He will have been punished by them, won’t he?
He is liked by us, isn’t he?
They are arrested by them, aren’t they?
I am loved by them, aren’t I?
He is being given money by them, isn’t he?
They are being invited, aren’t they?
He was being invited, wasn’t he?
They were being beaten, weren’t they?
Mashuda
God is kind to all, …?
Ibrahim Hossain
isn’t he?
Keith Taylor
God is kind to all, isn’t he?
Rc
‘As you know a doctor’s duty toward his patient is above everything.’
Could you please tell me what the tag question for the sentence is?
Keith Taylor
As you know a doctor’s duty toward his patient is above everything, isn’t it?
Rabiul Jewel
What is the tag question of ‘Everything depends on the sincerity of the government, …?’
Keith Taylor
Everything depends on the sincerity of the government, doesn’t it?
Sanju
What is the question tag of these 3 statement?
1. Everyone has come late today.
2. The audience have taken their seats.
3. Wait for me.
Keith Taylor
1. Everyone has come late today, haven’t they?
2. The audience have taken their seats, haven’t they?
3. Wait for me, won’t you?
Emmanuel
Please help me with this: Are they sleeping?
Keith Taylor
Hi Emmanuel
“Are they sleeping?” is a direct question, so we can’t add a tag. However, we can change it to a statement and add a tag, like this:
“They are sleeping, aren’t they?”
I hope that helps!
Keith
raf
a) Please help me, won’t you?
b) Please do not disturb me, will you?
c) Please give me a cup of coffee, will you?
Are the above tag questions correct?
Keith Taylor
Yes, they are correct :-)
ankhi
Time and tide wait for noone, …?
None of us can solves these problems, …?
Nothing was said, …?
To tell a lie is a great sin, sinners suffer in the long run, …?
Flowers are a symbol of beauty and purity, nobody dislikes flowers, …?
Keith Taylor
Time and tide wait for noone, do they?
None of us can solve these problems, can we?
Nothing was said, was it?
To tell a lie is a great sin, sinners suffer in the long run, don’t they?
Flowers are a symbol of beauty and purity, nobody dislikes flowers, do they?
Elnare
Hi. There are few illnesses in modern medicine, … aren’t there or are there? And why? Thank you in advance.
Keith Taylor
“aren’t there” is correct.
Bibek pandey
Please tell:
I am always interested in learning new things, …?
Keith Taylor
I am always interested in learning new things, aren’t I?
Kulsum
1. Who loves a parental baby, …?
2. The mother roused her, …?
Keith Taylor
1. Who loves a parental baby, …?
This is a direct question so we can’t use a question tag here. To use a question tag, it needs to be a statement.
2. The mother roused her, didn’t she?
Abhi
Where do we have to use the ‘do’ forms?
She needed a pen
She has a pen
Keith Taylor
She needed a pen, didn’t she?
She has a pen, doesn’t she?
Francis kapalasa
Am totally confused with your explanation regarding how to form a question tag from a clause. Surely, most of you said, ‘when the clause has main verb, this means, the clause has no other verbs assisting the other one, we use a tag, do/does/did’. My question, why on ‘there is silence, takes ‘isn’t there?’ instead of ‘doesn’t there? What is special with ‘there’ as used in the clause? I have seen other questions of similar nature taking ‘do/does/did’ but not with that one above. Help fast
Keith Taylor
Hi Francis
If the main verb in the clause is “be”, then we use this in the tag. This is the case with “there is”:
There is silence, isn’t there?
I’ve updated the post, adding this point.
Suliman Khan
Hi
Tag question for
She has her hair styled
Keith Taylor
She has her hair styled, doesn’t she?
Sada kimbengele
May you assist me tag question of this sentence?
One of the teachers attended the meeting
Keith Taylor
One of the teachers attended the meeting, didn’t they?
Md Abdul Based Miah
Always remember breaking a friendship is easier than building it – what will be the tag question, please?
Keith Taylor
Always remember, breaking a friendship is easier than building it, isn’t it?
Joseph
Change “there are ten bungalows on this street” to negative tag question
Keith Taylor
There are ten bungalows on this street, aren’t there?
Kamre Qubad
I mustn’t be late – solve
Keith Taylor
I mustn’t be late, must I?
Taylor Alison
Hi, I don’t know if you’re still answering the questions. But if you are, could you help with this?
When I don’t know the gender of the person I’m talking about, I replace with they?
Example: That student has done all the homework, haven’t they?
Keith Taylor
Yes, you can use “they” if you don’t know the gender of the person.
Dikshya
I have a very good reason for doing so, …?
What will be the tag question here?
Sk asmit
Havent I?
Keith Taylor
I have a very good reason for doing so, don’t I?
Farin
‘No’ is a word, …? Tag question please
Keith Taylor
‘No’ is a word, isn’t it?
Ibrahim Ibrahim
My question is: Add question tag
(1) He cannot do this to you
Keith Taylor
He cannot do this to you, can he?
Madan
So you haven’t done your homework, …?
What is correct tag question here?
Keith Taylor
So you haven’t done your homework, have you?
Blossom
I am standing on my chair, …?
Bola was going home, …?
Keith Taylor
I am standing on my chair, aren’t I?
Bola was going home, wasn’t he?
robiul
(a) Father: What a nice garden it is, …?
(b) Son: You are right, father, …?
(c) Father: Let’s go closer, …?
(d) Son: No, Father. We don’t have enough time, …?
(e) Father: Ok. Let’s not go today, …?
Keith Taylor
What a nice garden it is, isn’t it?
You are right, father, aren’t you?
Let’s go closer, shall we?
No, Father. We don’t have enough time, do we?
Ok. Let’s not go today, shall we?
Nikhil kolekar
Will you do the sentence I gave
Keith Taylor
Hi Nikhil – which sentence do you mean? Could you write it again?
Gaurab
They never meet the minister…?
Keith Taylor
They never meet the minister, do they?
Kalpita muchhal
(1) Are you happy with me?
(2) Someone has shouted my name.
(3) You broke the door.
(4) You don’t like tea.
(5) I didn’t hurt you.
Keith Taylor
Hi Kalpita
(1) Are you happy with me? – This is already a question, so we can’t a dd a tag question.
(2) Someone has shouted my name, haven’t they?
(3) You broke the door, didn’t you?
(4) You don’t like tea, do you?
(5) I didn’t hurt you, did I?
Thyab
I don’t think he cares, …? What is the tag question?
Keith Taylor
I don’t think he cares, does he?
Mahendra
Take your certificate, …?
I shall arrive on time, …?
Keith Taylor
Take your certificate, won’t you / will you?
I shall arrive on time, shan’t I?
Haiedr
The name of the man who owns your company is Joy, isn’t it?
This sentence is correct in meaning and grammar or not. Thanks
Alisha kattel
Well I couldn’t help it
We’d never have known
The weather’s bad
You won’t be late
You have a bath daily
You couldn’t help me
Shut up
Change into question tag please
Keith Taylor
Well I couldn’t help it, could I?
We’d never have known, would we?
The weather’s bad, isn’t it?
You won’t be late, will you?
You have a bath daily, don’t you?
You couldn’t help me, could you?
Shut up
Change into question tag please
Keith Taylor
Yes, that is correct.
Atit Rana
Please convert into tag question:
He hardly follows traffic rules, …?
Keith Taylor
He hardly follows traffic rules, does he?
Hance mwakibibi
What will be a question tag of the statement: He failed because of his lazy
Keith Taylor
Hi Hance
First we need to change “lazy” (adjective) to “laziness” (noun). Then, the question tag will be:
He failed because of his laziness, didn’t he?
Swabrina
You cleaned the market, …?
Keith Taylor
The question tag would be:
You cleaned the market, didn’t you?
Prince yadav
Let us join the meeting
What will be its tag and why?
Keith Taylor
Let’s join the meeting, shall we? (We use “shall” with “let’s”)
ankhi
Please help me with this:
Everybody wants to lead a better life, …?
Nobody was present yesterday, …?
Nothing is better than this quality, …?
They hardly suffer from poverty, …?
Let’s us try to be honest, …?
Keith Taylor
Here are the tag questions:
Everybody wants to lead a better life, don’t they?
Nobody was present yesterday, were they?
Nothing is better than this quality, is it?
They hardly suffer from poverty, do they?
Let’s us try to be honest, shall we?
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
Fishes can swim, …?
Help the helpless, …?
“She” is a pronoun, …?
He put the bag here, …?
They seldom come to me, …?
The friendship rose in them, …?
Let’s go to the outing, …?
Keith Taylor
Fishes can swim, can’t they?
“She” is a pronoun, isn’t it?
He put the bag here, didn’t he?
They seldom come to me, do they?
The friendship rose in them, didn’t it?
Let’s go to the outing, shall we?
Help the helpless, …? – There are a few possibilities for this tag:
…will you?
…won’t you?
…can’t you? (probably less common)
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
thank you so much sir…
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
Solve them sir..
There is a mistake,……..?
The wind blows,……….?
Fire burns,……….?
None can do this,……..?
Iam punctual,……..?
Don’t forget me,……..?
Open the door,………..?
Iam happy,……….?
Iam an ssc examinee,……?
Don’t tell’a tie,……..?
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
How nice the bird is, …?
Keith Taylor
How nice the bird is, isn’t it?
Ibrahim Hossain
That’s what I said, isn’t it?
Nothing is made, is it?
Get it done, will you?
Let me see what he made, will you? Power is grabbed, isn’t it?
Everything is done, isn’t it?
I’m going, aren’t I?
Insects bite, don’t they?
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
He as well as his brother come here,……………….?
You need to see a doctor,…………….?
Afsana Jaman Akhi....
He as well as his brother come here,……………….?
Keith Taylor
None but the optimists are accepted by all, are they?
Ariful Islam Suman
None but the optimists are accepted by all.
Tag Question of this sentence?
Keith Taylor
We see that they have little knowledge about games and sports, don’t we? (“We” is the subject”)
But you could also say:
We see that they have little knowledge about games and sports, do they? (“they” is the subject)
Mashuda
“The child died at the spot” – make tag question
Keith Taylor
She came since he had called her, didn’t she?
Keith Taylor
He did nothing, did he?
Keith Taylor
The buses aren’t brand new, are they?
Keith Taylor
The rooms aren’t ready for the visit, are they?
Keith Taylor
He never hid, did he?
Keith Taylor
None was said, was it?
“Nothing was said, was it?” may be better.
Keith Taylor
Hi Asif
This sentence can’t have a tag.
Keith
Keith Taylor
Hi Reshma
It’s not really possible to make a tag question with this, but you could say:
“How odd, isn’t it?” – This is like saying “It’s odd, isn’t it?”
Hope that helps.
Keith Taylor
I am used to walking in the morning, aren’t I?
Keith Taylor
Hi Anik, it’s not really possible to add a tag to this sentence. You would need to change it to:
“It’s a shame.”
The tag would then be “isn’t it?”
Keith Taylor
All of us can do it, can’t we?
Keith Taylor
Jane believes that her team members easily won the game because they are familiar with teamwork, doesn’t she?
Keith Taylor
She said she was happy, didn’t she?
She said that she was happy, didn’t she?
Congratulations – it is not possible to add a question tag to this.
One should always speak the truth, shouldn’t one? – This doesn’t sound very natural, so we might say “shouldn’t we?”
Keith Taylor
Hi Joel
1. There is no difference for the tag:
Everybody can clean the chalkboard, can’t they?
Every person can clean the chalkboard, can’t they?
2. “Everything” is singular, so the tag is “it”. If you said “All the things”, then “things” is plural, so the tag is “they?
I hope this helps.
Keith Taylor
Hi Akbar
You could say:
“There exists no air on Mars, does there?” or “There is no air on Mars, is there?”
Keith Taylor
Hi Mah
The subject is “I”, so we need to use “I” in the tag:
I couldn’t stand my boss, could I?
Keith Taylor
Hi Mira
You can say:
“This is my uncle, isn’t it?” or “He is my uncle, isn’t he?”
Keith Taylor
Hello, Roman. I believe you’re coming to the airport, aren’t you?
Mira
This is my uncle – isn’t it or isn’t he – which correct?
Keith Taylor
Hi Sara
1 Adam’s broken’s stolen, …? (This sentence doesn’t really make sense – maybe number 2 is the sentence you wanted to write?)
2 Adam’s broken car’s stolen, isn’t it?
3 I think she is a good student, isn’t she?
4 There’s been no news, has there?
Keith Taylor
There is a man in the room, isn’t there?
Keith Taylor
Hi, here’s an example:
“Only a few children went to the party, didn’t they?”
I hope this helps.
Keith Taylor
If “have” is the principal verb, the auxiliary verb in the tag is “do” (don’t, did, didn’t, etc)
Keith Taylor
All that glitters is not gold, is it?
In the sentence “All that glitters is not gold” we have the negative “is not”. Therefore the tag must be affirmative.
Hope that helps.
Keith Taylor
Hi, neither of these options are correct. The correct tag is “mustn’t it?”
Hope that helps.
Keith Taylor
You are not happy with the decision, are you?
Keith Taylor
Hi Julius
Can you give me an example sentence?
Thanks
Keith Taylor
1. Here is your shirt, …?
It isn’t really possible to add a tag to this sentence.
2. He said to me “Never waste your time, will you”?
Keith Taylor
Yes, this sounds okay too.