Question tags

Do you know how to use question tags like is he and didn't you? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how question tags are used.

You haven't seen this film, have you?
Your sister lives in Spain, doesn't she?
He can't drive, can he?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Question tags: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

We can add question tags like isn't it?, can you? or didn't they? to a statement to make it into a question. Question tags are more common in speaking than writing.

We often use question tags when we expect the listener to agree with our statement. In this case, when the statement is positive, we use a negative question tag.

She's a doctor, isn't she?
Yesterday was so much fun, wasn't it?

If the statement is negative, we use a positive question tag.

He isn't here, is he?
The trains are never on time, are they?
Nobody has called for me, have they?

If we are sure or almost sure that the listener will confirm that our statement is correct, we say the question tag with a falling intonation. If we are a bit less sure, we say the question tag with a rising intonation.

Formation

If there is an auxiliary verb in the statement, we use it to form the question tag.

I don't need to finish this today, do I?
James is working on that, isn't he?
Your parents have retired, haven't they?
The phone didn't ring, did it?
It was raining that day, wasn't it?
Your mum hadn't met him before, had she?

Sometimes there is no auxiliary verb already in the statement. For example, when:

... the verb in the statement is present simple or past simple and is positive. Here we use don't, doesn't or didn't:

Jenni eats cheese, doesn't she?
I said that already, didn't I?

... the verb in the statement is to be in the present simple or past simple. In this case we use to be to make the question tag:

The bus stop's over there, isn't it?
None of those customers were happy, were they?

... the verb in the statement is a modal verb. Here we use the modal verb to make the question tag:

They could hear me, couldn't they?
You won't tell anyone, will you?

If the main verb or auxiliary verb in the statement is am, the positive question tag is am I? but the negative question tag is usually aren't I?:

I'm never on time, am I?
I'm going to get an email with the details, aren't I?

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Question tags: Grammar test 2

Try another grammar lesson

Language level

B1 Intermediate

B2 Upper intermediate

Hello Daria_Dana_off,

'shall we' is usually used as a question tag in such circumstances.

In the US, although people would understand this, they'd probably find this use of 'shall' a bit strange. There I expect people would say something like 'Let's go to the movies this evening, OK?'

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Is it correct to use 'no' that is equivalent to either right ! OR question tag For example: Maybe you had a dream. No? The election is next week, no? equivalent sentences Maybe you had a dream. Hadn't you? The election is next week, right I know definitely using 'no' for this kind of sentences is not right but I've found this kind of usage on some youtube videos so how acceptable is it to use ''no'' !

Hello Ilma9795,

Yes, people sometimes use 'right' and 'no' as question tags. In my experience, 'no' is much less common that 'right', but think it's fine to use both, though I would generally recommend 'right' over 'no' and I'd recommend not using either one very much, at least in British English. In India, where usage of 'no', for example, could be more common, I would follow the usage there.

It's also important to recognise the forms taught on this page, as they are used quite frequently, especially in British English.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

In tag questions, the choice and tense of the (i)................... are determined by the verb phrase in the (ii)........................ clause. A less (iii)......................type of tag question is that in which both the statement and the (iv)................ are positive. This tag always has a rising nucleus on the operator, which indicates the speaker’s arrival at a conclusion by inference, or by recalling what has been said. can sb helps me w this. many thnk

Hi ndtungg, (i) is probably 'verb' and (ii) is probably 'main'. The question tag (e.g. 'is he?') contains a verb, which is in the same tense as the verb in the statement (e.g. 'He isn't here, is he?'). (iii) I guess is 'common', and (iv) is 'tag'. This type of question tag isn't covered in the explanation on this page. Best wishes, Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team