What Is a Question Tag?
A question tag is a short question at the end of a sentence, like isn't it? or don't you?. It checks that the listener agrees.
POSITIVE → NEGATIVE TAGis → isn't
It's really hot today, isn't it?
NEGATIVE → POSITIVE TAGhaven't → have
You haven't seen my keys, have you?
NO HELPER VERBlive → don't
You live near here, don't you?
A positive sentence takes a negative tag. A negative sentence takes a positive tag.
The tag repeats the helper verb: the first small verb in the sentence (is, have, can, will). With no helper verb, use do, does or did.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"The soup is a bit salty, blank?"
- Question 2
"Your parents live in Cần Thơ, blank?"
The forms
HELPER VERB
Sis / have / can…,isn't / haven't / can't+ pronoun?
She can swim, can't she?
The tag uses a pronoun: Lan → she, the kids → they.
NO HELPER VERB
Sverb…,don't / doesn't / didn't+ pronoun?
Your dad works in Đà Nẵng, doesn't he?
Present simple: don't / doesn't. Past simple: didn't.
SPECIAL TAGS
- I'm…aren't I?
- Let's…shall we?
- There's…isn't there?
- You never…do you?
Never, nothing and hardly make the sentence negative, so the tag is positive.
When to use them
Starting a chat
This queue is really long, isn't it?
Your voice goes down: you expect the stranger next to you to agree.
Checking something
The meeting starts at two, doesn't it?
Your voice goes up: you really are not sure.
In conversation, right? works after any sentence: You live in Huế, right?
How Do You Answer a Question Tag?
Answer the facts, not the tag. If the true answer is positive, say Yes. If it is negative, say No.
| YOU DON'T LIKE IT | YOU LIKE IT | |
|---|---|---|
| You don't like durian, do you? | No, I don't. | Yes, I do. |
| You like durian, don't you? | No, I don't. | Yes, I do. |
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Lan isn't married, is she?" "blank, she is. Her husband is a doctor."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:You live in Huế, isn't it?
Correct:You live in Huế, don't you?
Isn't it is not a tag for every sentence. Live needs don't.
Incorrect:Your brother is a doctor, isn't it?
Correct:Your brother is a doctor, isn't he?
The tag uses a pronoun for the subject: your brother is he.
Incorrect:You were at the party, didn't you?
Correct:You were at the party, weren't you?
Repeat were. Use did only when there is no helper verb.
Incorrect:You can drive, don't you?
Correct:You can drive, can't you?
Repeat can in the tag.
Incorrect:You never call me, don't you?
Correct:You never call me, do you?
Never is already negative. The tag is positive.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct tag:
There's a pharmacy near here, isn't there?
- A. isn't there — Correct
- B. isn't it
- C. doesn't it
Answer: A. isn't there
The tag repeats is and keeps there as its subject.
Choose the correct tag:
Let's go for a walk, shall we?
- A. shall we — Correct
- B. don't we
- C. won't we
Answer: A. shall we
A suggestion with let's has no helper verb to repeat. The tag is fixed.
Choose the correct tag:
I'm late again, aren't I?
- A. aren't I — Correct
- B. am not I
- C. isn't it
Answer: A. aren't I
English has no everyday "amn't", so the tag borrows aren't.
Choose the correct tag:
Hoa has finished her exams, hasn't she?
- A. hasn't she — Correct
- B. doesn't she
- C. isn't she
Answer: A. hasn't she
Has finished is the present perfect. Repeat has, and add n't.
You did not forget. Choose the correct answer:
"You didn't forget my birthday, did you?" "No, I didn't. Here's your present!"
- A. No, I didn't. — Correct
- B. Yes, I didn't.
- C. Yes, I did.
Answer: A. No, I didn't.
Yes goes with did, no goes with didn't. Yes, I did would mean you forgot.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions