English For Enrichment 2

Question Tags: Rules, Examples, Exercises and Answers
What is a Question Tag?
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement. We use question tags when we want to check or confirm information.
Examples
You are a student, aren't you?
She is coming today, isn't she?
They don't play cricket, do they?
Rahul can swim, can't he?
A question tag normally consists of an auxiliary verb (helping verb) + pronoun.
Basic Rule of Question Tags
There are two important rules:
Rule 1: Positive statement → Negative question tag
If the statement is positive, the question tag is usually negative.
Examples:
He is a teacher, isn't he?
She can dance, can't she?
They are ready, aren't they?
You like English, don't you?
Rule 2: Negative statement → Positive question tag
If the statement is negative, the question tag is usually positive.
Examples:
He isn't a teacher, is he?
She can't dance, can she?
They aren't ready, are they?
You don't like tea, do you?
Question Tags with "Be" Verbs
When the statement contains am, is, are, was, or were, use the appropriate form in the question tag.
Examples
He is your brother, isn't he?
She is beautiful, isn't she?
They are students, aren't they?
You are ready, aren't you?
He was absent, wasn't he?
They were happy, weren't they?
Negative statements:
He isn't your brother, is he?
They aren't students, are they?
She wasn't absent, was she?
They weren't happy, were they?
Question Tags with "Do, Does and Did"
When there is no auxiliary verb in a simple present or simple past statement, use do, does, or did.
Simple Present
You play cricket, don't you?
They speak English, don't they?
He plays cricket, doesn't he?
She likes music, doesn't she?
Simple Past
You went to school, didn't you?
They played well, didn't they?
He visited Mumbai, didn't he?
Negative examples:
You don't play cricket, do you?
She doesn't like music, does she?
They didn't go there, did they?
Question Tags with Modal Verbs
If the statement contains a modal verb such as can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, or might, use the same modal verb in the tag.
Examples
He can swim, can't he?
She can't drive, can she?
You will come, won't you?
They won't agree, will they?
We should help him, shouldn't we?
She could solve the problem, couldn't she?
You would help me, wouldn't you?
Question Tags with "Have" and "Has"
When have/has functions as an auxiliary verb, use it in the question tag.
She has finished her work, hasn't she?
They have arrived, haven't they?
He hasn't completed the work, has he?
You haven't seen this film, have you?
Question Tags with "There"
When a sentence begins with there is, there are, there was, or there were, use there in the tag.
There is a problem, isn't there?
There are many students, aren't there?
There was a meeting, wasn't there?
There weren't many people, were there?
Question Tags with "This" and "That"
Use it in the question tag.
This is your book, isn't it?
That is your house, isn't it?
This isn't your pen, is it?
That wasn't your bag, was it?
Question Tags with "These" and "Those"
Use they in the question tag.
These are your books, aren't they?
Those are your shoes, aren't they?
These aren't your books, are they?
Those weren't your shoes, were they?
Question Tags with "Everyone, Everybody, Someone and Nobody"
Words such as everyone, everybody, someone, nobody, no one generally take they in the question tag.
Examples
Everyone is ready, aren't they?
Everybody enjoyed the programme, didn't they?
Someone called you, didn't they?
Nobody came to school, did they?
No one knows the answer, do they?
Special Case: "I am"
The usual question tag for I am is:
I am late, aren't I?
Example:
I am your friend, aren't I?
I am invited, aren't I?
Special Case: Imperative Sentences
For commands and requests, question tags can use expressions such as will you?, won't you?, would you?, or can you?, depending on the meaning.
Examples
Open the door, will you?
Please help me, will you?
Come with us, won't you?
Don't make noise, will you?
For suggestions beginning with Let's, the usual tag is:
shall we?
Example:
Let's go for a walk, shall we?
Let's play cricket, shall we?
Question Tags: 30 Examples
You are a student, aren't you?
She is your sister, isn't she?
They are ready, aren't they?
He was absent, wasn't he?
We were late, weren't we?
You like English, don't you?
She likes music, doesn't she?
They play football, don't they?
He went to school, didn't he?
She finished her homework, didn't she?
He can swim, can't he?
You can't drive, can you?
She will come tomorrow, won't she?
They won't complain, will they?
We should help them, shouldn't we?
He hasn't arrived, has he?
They have completed the work, haven't they?
There is a problem, isn't there?
There aren't many students, are there?
This is your book, isn't it?
Those are your shoes, aren't they?
Everyone is happy, aren't they?
Nobody called you, did they?
You don't know him, do you?
She doesn't speak French, does she?
They didn't come yesterday, did they?
He wasn't angry, was he?
Let's go outside, shall we?
Open the window, will you?
I am late, aren't I?
Practice Exercise 1: Fill in the Question Tags
Complete the following sentences with suitable question tags.
You are a teacher, __________?
She is your friend, __________?
They are coming tomorrow, __________?
He isn't ready, __________?
We were late, __________?
You like English, __________?
She doesn't play tennis, __________?
They went to Mumbai, __________?
He can drive a car, __________?
You can't swim, __________?
She will help us, __________?
They won't come today, __________?
He has completed his homework, __________?
They haven't arrived yet, __________?
There is a problem, __________?
There aren't many people here, __________?
This is your notebook, __________?
Those are your books, __________?
Everyone enjoyed the programme, __________?
Nobody knows the answer, __________?
Answers to Exercise 1
aren't you?
isn't she?
aren't they?
is he?
weren't we?
don't you?
does she?
didn't they?
can't he?
can you?
won't she?
will they?
hasn't he?
have they?
isn't there?
are there?
isn't it?
aren't they?
didn't they?
do they?
Practice Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Question Tag
Choose the correct answer.
He is a doctor, __________?
a) is he
b) isn't he
c) doesn't he
She doesn't like coffee, __________?
a) does she
b) doesn't she
c) is she
They played cricket, __________?
a) don't they
b) didn't they
c) weren't they
You can speak English, __________?
a) can't you
b) can you
c) don't you
She won't come today, __________?
a) won't she
b) will she
c) does she
Let's start the lesson, __________?
a) will we
b) shall we
c) don't we
Nobody was absent, __________?
a) were they
b) weren't they
c) was he
There is a book on the table, __________?
a) isn't there
b) is there
c) doesn't there
This is your pen, __________?
a) isn't this
b) isn't it
c) doesn't it
I am right, __________?
a) amn't I
b) aren't I
c) don't I
Answers to Exercise 2
b) isn't he
a) does she
b) didn't they
a) can't you
b) will she
b) shall we
a) were they
a) isn't there
b) isn't it
b) aren't I
Practice Exercise 3: Correct the Question Tags
Find and correct the mistake.
She is your sister, doesn't she?
He plays cricket, isn't he?
They aren't ready, aren't they?
You don't like tea, don't you?
He can swim, doesn't he?
She went to school, wasn't she?
Let's go home, will we?
Nobody came, didn't they?
This is your bag, isn't this?
There are many students, isn't there?
Answers to Exercise 3
She is your sister, isn't she?
He plays cricket, doesn't he?
They aren't ready, are they?
You don't like tea, do you?
He can swim, can't he?
She went to school, didn't she?
Let's go home, shall we?
Nobody came, did they?
This is your bag, isn't it?
There are many students, aren't there?
Quick Revision: Question Tag Formula
Positive sentence
Positive statement + negative tag
She is happy, isn't she?
Negative sentence
Negative statement + positive tag
She isn't happy, is she?
Remember
Positive → Negative
Negative → Positive
The auxiliary verb in the statement generally determines the auxiliary verb in the question tag.
The subject changes into a suitable pronoun.
Test Yourself
Complete these 10 sentences without looking at the answers.
You are ready, __________?
He doesn't know me, __________?
She can sing well, __________?
They visited Delhi, __________?
We should help him, __________?
There isn't any water, __________?
Everyone is present, __________?
Let's begin, __________?
This isn't your book, __________?
I am your friend, __________?
Test Answers
aren't you?
does he?
can't she?
didn't they?
shouldn't we?
is there?
aren't they?
shall we?
is it?
aren't I?
Conclusion
Question tags are short questions used to confirm or check information. The most important rule to remember is:
Positive statement → Negative question tag
Negative statement → Positive question tag
Practice question tags regularly and pay attention to the auxiliary verb, subject pronoun, and positive/negative form of the sentence.
For more English grammar lessons, exercises, vocabulary and spoken English practice, explore the other resources on English For Enrichment 2.
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