English Grammar – Question Tags Definition, Types, Examples, Rules, Tips, Practice Exercises
- Introduction
- What is Question Tag?
- Question Tags Examples
- Types of Question Tags
- Forming Question Tags in Sentences
- Step-by-Step Guide to Forming Question Tags
- Rules for Making Questions with Question Tags
- Tips to use Question Tags
- Sample Question Tag Questions
- Question Tag Exercises
Introduction
You might have noticed how simple phrases like, “isn’t it?” or “don’t you” can change a statement into a question when added to it. These are called question tags and they play a vital role in adding a conversational tone, seeking confirmation, or increasing engagement in discussions. Be it whether you are improving your conversation skills or your grammar, learning about and improving the usage of question tags would enhance your conversational English, and can give your language a significant boost. The article will cover everything you need to know about question tags, their types, formation, usage, rules, tips and practice questions for further learning.
What is Question Tag?
A question tag is a short phrase added to the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a question. Question tags are most often used in spoken language to confirm something that is said and also to encourage the listener to give an answer. The purpose is often to confirm information or encourage the listener to respond. For example:
- “You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?”
“Aren’t you?” is the question tag used to confirm the statement.
- “She doesn’t like coffee, does she?”
“Does she?” is used to confirm and encourage the listener to respond to the statement.
Question Tags Examples
Some examples of Question Tags can be:
- Shahina is the new lead, isn’t she?
- They have confirmed, haven’t they?
- Tharun and Varun are on their way to the airport, aren’t they?
- Ritu and Brinha were not the best of friends from the start, were they?
- Sheena will not be attending the ceremony, will she?
- She would not have done that, would she?
Types of Questions tags
- Positive to Negative
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag to seek confirmation or agreement. They are often used when you believe the statement is true and want the other person to confirm it. For example,
- “She’s a great teacher, isn’t she?”
- “You’ve finished your homework, haven’t you?”
- Negative to Positive
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag to clarify or confirm something. This type often implies some doubt or curiosity. They are often used when you believe the statement is false or want the other person to correct it. For example,
- “He hasn’t called yet, has he?”
- “You don’t like spicy food, do you?”
- Imperative
Used with commands, requests, or suggestions, imperative tags soften the tone of the statement, making the sentence sound more polite or encouraging. For example,
- “Close the door, will you?”
- “Let’s go for a walk, shall we?”
- Universal
Tags, such as “right?” or “is that okay?”, are less formal and add a casual, conversational feel. They are often used to confirm assumptions or expectations and are not used in formal conversations or writings. For example,
- “You’ve been here before, right?”
- “We’ll leave around 8 PM, is that okay?”
Forming Question Tags in Sentences
Forming and using question tags appropriately requires attention to a few basic rules to ensure accuracy.These small additions might seem simple and obvious, but the nuances of grammar, punctuation, and tone can impact their use.
Structure of a Sentence with a Question Tag
A sentence with a question tag follows this structure:
Statement, question tag?
For example: “You’re coming to the meeting, aren’t you?”
Punctuation when forming a question tag:
- Start the sentence with a capital letter.
- Place a comma after the statement.
- End the sentence with a question mark following the tag.
Step-by-Step Guide to Forming Question Tags
I. Identify the Auxiliary or Main Verb
Start by identifying the main verb or auxiliary verb in the sentence. This could include verbs like “be,” “do,” “have,” or modal auxiliaries such as “can,” “will,” “should,” etc. The auxiliary or main verb is important for forming the question tag. For example,
- Auxiliary verb:
Sentence: “She is happy.”
Auxiliary verb: “is.”
Question tag: “She is happy, isn’t she?”
- Main verb:
Sentence: “He has a car.”
Main verb: “has.”
Question tag: “He has a car, doesn’t he?” (Since “has” is the main verb, “does” is used in the tag.)
- Modal auxiliary:
Sentence: “They can swim.”
Modal auxiliary: “can.”
Question tag: “They can swim, can’t they?”
II. Determine the Polarity
Check if the statement is positive or negative to decide the opposite polarity for the question tag.
If the statement is positive, the tag must be negative:
- Sentence: “She is reading a book.”
- Positive statement – Negative tag: “She is reading a book, isn’t she?”
If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive:
- Sentence: “You don’t like tea.”
- Negative statement – Positive tag: “You don’t like tea, do you?”
III. Match the Subject
The subject in the question tag should match the subject of the main sentence. If the subject is a pronoun, use the same pronoun in the tag. If the subject is a noun, replace it with the appropriate pronoun in the tag. For example,
- “He enjoys running.”- Pronoun: “he.”
- Question tag: “He enjoys running, doesn’t he?”
- “John is going to the concert.”- Noun- John
- Question tag: “John is going to the concert, isn’t he?”
IV. Construct the Tag
Combine the auxiliary verb (or the verb “do” if no auxiliary is present), its opposite polarity, and the matching pronoun to create the question tag. Do not forget the question mark at the end.
For example,
- Positive statement: “She was late.” – Auxiliary verb – “was”; Opposite polarity – “wasn’t”; Subject – “she.”
- Question Tag: “She was late, wasn’t she?”
- Negative statement: “They weren’t ready.” – Auxiliary verb – “were”; Opposite polarity -“were”; Subject – “they.”
- Question Tag: “They weren’t ready, were they?”
- No auxiliary: Use “do,” “does,” or “did” based on the tense and subject.
“He teaches Chemistry.”: Main verb – “teaches”; Use “does”; Opposite polarity – “doesn’t”; Subject – “he.”
- Question Tag: “He teaches Chemistry, doesn’t he?”
Rules for Making Questions with Question Tags
To ensure 100% accuracy when using question tags it is important for the student to keep in mind the following rules:
- Polarity: A positive statement requires a negative question tag, and a negative statement requires a positive question tag. For example:
- (Positive): “You like pizza, don’t you?”
- (Negative): “You don’t like pizza, do you?”
- Verb Agreement: Use the auxiliary or main verb in the statement to form the question tag. If the sentence uses an auxiliary or modal verb, the same verb appears in the tag. For example: “She can sing, can’t she?”
- Subject Pronoun: Replace the subject noun with the appropriate pronoun in the question tag. For example: “John is late, isn’t he?”, here the correct subject will be he instead of she or they.
- Punctuation: A comma should always separate the statement and the question tag, and the sentence ends with a question mark. For example: “They were at the park, weren’t they?
- Correct Tense: Match the verb tense in the statement and the question tag. For example:
- (Past Tense) “He finished his homework, didn’t he?”
- (Present Tense): “You know the answer, don’t you?”
Tips to use Question Tags
- Be Mindful of Context: Use question tags appropriately to express politeness, seek confirmation, or invite agreement. For instance, a softer tag can make a command sound less direct like, “Pass me the sugar, won’t you?”
- Watch for Emotions in Statements: If the statement conveys surprise or sarcasm, a positive tag can follow a positive statement. For example: “You think that’s a good idea, do you?”
- Handle Imperatives with Care: When forming tags for imperative sentences, use “will,” “would,” or “can” to soften commands or make polite requests. For example: “Open the door, will you?”
- Understand Universal Tags: For casual settings, universal tags like “right?” or “is that okay?” can replace standard tags. Like, “You’ll be there on time, right?”
- Practice with Tricky Pronouns: Treat statements with words like “nothing” or “nobody” as negative, and use a positive tag. For example: “Nobody came to the meeting, did they?”
Sample Questions on Question tags
Fill in the blanks with appropriate question tags.
- You’re coming to the party, _______?
- She doesn’t like coffee, _______?
- They were at the park yesterday, _______?
- You haven’t met him before, _______?
- He studies hard every day, _______?
- We should leave early, _______?
- She can’t solve this problem, _______?
- It’s a beautiful day, _______?
- Nobody called during the meeting, _______?
- You won’t forget to bring the book, _______?
Answers:
- You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
- She doesn’t like coffee, does she?
- They were at the park yesterday, weren’t they?
- You haven’t met him before, have you?
- He studies hard every day, doesn’t he?
- We should leave early, shouldn’t we?
- She can’t solve this problem, can she?
- It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
- Nobody called during the meeting, did they?
- You won’t forget to bring the book, will you?
Question Tag Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences
Read the following statements and fill in the gaps using correct question tags.
- Juhi is from Mumbai, ____?
- We are late for the movies, ___?
- Sam isn’t a good boy, ____?
- I was wrong about this, ___?
- Andrew was present at the school yesterday, ____?
- You have done your homework, _____?
- Please stop talking, ___?
- I am afraid Tim is very sick, ____?
- Sheena won’t mind if I use her book, ____?
- The girl is playing the piano, ____?
- Patrick will come to the seminar tonight, ____?
- Rita never acts so rudely, ____?
- Sam isn’t a student, _____?
- It is very humid today, ____?
- Laura is beautiful, _____?
- Jake is from Canada, ____?
- We missed the train, ___?
- Peter isn’t very friendly, ____?
- I am right about this, ___?
- Emma was absent from work yesterday, ____?
- You have submitted your project, _____?
- Be quiet, ___?
- I am concerned that Lily is unwell, ____?
- Sarah won’t mind if I borrow her laptop, ____?
- The boy is singing, ____?
Answers:
- Juhi is from Mumbai, isn’t she?
- We are late for the movies, aren’t we?
- Sam isn’t a good boy, is he?
- I was wrong about this, wasn’t I?
- Andrew was present at the school yesterday, wasn’t he?
- You have done your homework, haven’t you?
- Please stop talking, will you?
- I am afraid Tim is very sick, isn’t he?
- Sheena won’t mind if I use her book, will she?
- The girl is playing the piano, isn’t she?
- Patrick will come to the seminar tonight, won’t he?
- Rita never acts so rudely, does she?
- Sam isn’t a student, is he?
- It is very humid today, isn’t it?
- Laura is beautiful, isn’t she?
- Jake is from Canada, isn’t he ?
- We missed the train, didn’t we ?
- Peter isn’t very friendly, is he ?
- I am right about this, aren’t I ?
- Emma was absent from work yesterday, wasn’t she ?
- You have submitted your project, haven’t you ?
- Be quiet, will you ?
- I am concerned that Lily is unwell, isn’t she ?
- Sarah won’t mind if I borrow her laptop, will she ?
- The boy is singing, isn’t he ?
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Read the sentences and fill in the blanks with the correct question tags.
1. Let’s go surfing, ____?
(A) shall we
(B) will we
(C) can we
(D) are we
2. The children are sleeping, ____?
(A) isn’t it
(B) aren’t they
(C) don’t they
(D) is it
3. The pan is hot, ___?
(A) isn’t it
(B) doesn’t it
(C) hasn’t it
(D) won’t it
4. Amy doesn’t like solving math problems, _____?
(A) does she
(B) doesn’t she
(C) isn’t she
(D) has she
5. You are from West Bengal, ____?
(A) aren’t you
(B) don’t you
(C) isn’t it
(D) haven’t you
6. I like eating chocolate pastries, ____?
(A) don’t I
(B) isn’t it
(C) haven’t I
(D) am I
7. You have completed your assignment, ____?
(A) don’t you
(B) haven’t you
(C) isn’t it
(D) didn’t you
8. You don’t live here, ____?
(A) don’t you
(B) have you
(C) do you
(D) are you
9. The children are playing in the garden, ____?
(A) isn’t it
(B) aren’t they
(C) don’t they
(D) haven’t they
10. We often go out for dinner on weekends, _____?
(A) don’t we
(B) aren’t we
(C) didn’t we
(D) isn’t it
11. Michael will attend the meeting tomorrow, ____?
(A) doesn’t he
(B) isn’t he
(C) won’t he
(D) hasn’t he
12. Susan never behaves in such a manner, ____?
(A) does she
(B) doesn’t she
(C) isn’t she
(D) won’t she
13. John isn’t a teacher, _____?
(A) won’t he
(B) isn’t he
(C) does he
(D) is he
14. It is quite cold today, ____?
(A) hasn’t it
(B) isn’t it
(C) don’t it
(D) is it
15. Olivia is intelligent, _____?
(A) doesn’t she
(B) is she
(C) isn’t she
(D) hasn’t she
16. Let’s have a picnic, ____?
(A) do we
(B) shall we
(C) can we
(D) aren’t we
17. The dog is barking, ____?
(A) aren’t it
(B) is it
(C) doesn’t it
(D) isn’t it
18. The soup is hot, ___?
(A) isn’t it
(B) don’t it
(C) hasn’t it
(D) does it
19. David doesn’t enjoy reading novels, _____?
(A) does he
(B) doesn’t he
(C) hasn’t he
(D) won’t he
20. You are from Australia, ____?
(A) don’t you
(B) are you
(C) aren’t you
(D) isn’t it
21. I love watching movies, ____?
(A) don’t I
(B) am I
(C) do I
(D) isn’t it
22. You have finished your chores, ____?
(A) don’t you
(B) haven’t you
(C) isn’t it
(D) didn’t you
23. You don’t work here, ____?
(A) don’t you
(B) do you
(C) aren’t you
(D) are you
24. The birds are chirping in the trees, ____?
(A) aren’t they
(B) isn’t it
(C) doesn’t it
(D) haven’t they
25. We usually have lunch at the park, _____?
(A) don’t we
(B) aren’t we
(C) didn’t we
(D) isn’t it
Answers:
- (A) shall we
- (B) aren’t they
- (A) isn’t it
- (A) does she
- (A) aren’t you
- (A) don’t I
- (B) haven’t you
- (C) do you
- (B) aren’t they
- (A) don’t we
- (C) won’t he
- (A) does she
- (D) is he
- (B) isn’t it
- (C) isn’t she
- (B) shall we
- (D) isn’t it
- (A) isn’t it
- (A) does he
- (C) aren’t you
- (A) don’t I
- (B) haven’t you
- (B) do you
- (A) aren’t they
- (A) don’t we
Conclusion
Question tags are an important part of everyday conversation. They allow us to confirm information, ask for agreement, or make our speech sound more polite. By following simple rules, like using the opposite form of the verb and matching the pronoun, you can effectively use question tags correctly. The article thus provides the students with a comprehensive guide on question tags, with its definitions, types, formation and practice questions which would aid in the students’ exam preparations and improve their communication skills.