Question Tags
Add natural checking questions to the end of sentences — positive sentence, negative tag, and vice versa. A2 grammar with 20 questions.
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a sentence to check information or invite agreement. “You’re a student, aren’t you?” “It’s hot today, isn’t it?” They make your English sound natural and friendly.
The simple rule: opposite polarity
If the sentence is positive, the tag is negative. If the sentence is negative, the tag is positive.
| Sentence | Tag |
|---|---|
| You are a student, (+) | aren’t you? (–) |
| She isn’t here, (–) | is she? (+) |
| They can swim, (+) | can’t they? (–) |
Match the helping verbThe tag uses the same helping verb as the sentence (is, are, can, will, have). If there is no helper, use do/does/did: “You like tea, don’t you?”
Examples
| Sentence | Tag |
|---|---|
| You like coffee, | don’t you? |
| He works here, | doesn’t he? |
| They went home, | didn’t they? |
| She will come, | won’t she? |
| You have finished, | haven’t you? |
A couple of special tags“I am right, aren’t I?” (not “amn’t I”). And “Let’s go, shall we?”
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersTwo steps make tags easy: (1) flip positive↔negative, and (2) use the same helping verb (or do/does/did if there isn’t one). The pronoun in the tag always matches the subject: “Aisha is kind, isn’t she?”
Common mistakes
- You are a student, are you? → You are a student, aren’t you?
- She likes tea, doesn’t she likes? → She likes tea, doesn’t she?
- I am late, amn’t I? → I am late, aren’t I?
Practise question tags with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."You are a student, ___?"
positive → negative tag: aren't you.
2."She isn't here, ___?"
negative → positive tag: is she.
3."They can swim, ___?"
positive → can't they.
4."You like coffee, ___?"
no helper → don't you.
5."He works here, ___?"
he + does → doesn't he.
6."They went home, ___?"
past → didn't they.
7."She will come, ___?"
positive → won't she.
8."You have finished, ___?"
have → haven't you.
9."It's hot today, ___?"
positive → isn't it.
10."Aisha is kind, ___?"
isn't she (pronoun matches Aisha).
11."You don't like tea, ___?"
negative → positive: do you.
12."He can't drive, ___?"
negative → positive: can he.
13.Special tag: "I am late, ___?"
Use "aren't I" (not amn't I).
14."Let's go, ___?"
Let's... → shall we?
15.Which is correct?
aren't you (opposite polarity).
16.Which is correct?
doesn't she.
17."We are ready, ___?"
aren't we.
18."Omar didn't call, ___?"
negative → positive: did he.
19."You'll help me, ___?"
positive → won't you.
20."The lesson was great, ___?"
positive past be → wasn't it.
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