A tag question is a short question added to a statement: “The lesson starts at nine, doesn’t it?” It lets you check information, invite agreement or respond to something surprising. To use tags naturally, you need to match the verb and subject, then choose a tone that fits what you mean.
What's your English level?
Take the test and get your certificate!
How to build a tag question
For an ordinary confirmation question, a positive statement usually takes a negative tag, while a negative statement usually takes a positive tag. The tag contains an auxiliary or modal verb followed by a subject pronoun. Put a comma before it and a question mark at the end.
Start with the verb in the statement. If it already contains be, an auxiliary have, or a modal such as can, use that verb in the tag. With a present or past simple main verb, use do, does or did.
| Statement | Tag | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The room is ready | isn’t it? | Repeat be; room becomes it. |
| You aren’t leaving | are you? | A negative statement takes a positive confirmation tag. |
| Maya has finished | hasn’t she? | Has is the present perfect auxiliary. |
| They can hear us | can’t they? | Keep the modal can. |
| Leo works here | doesn’t he? | Use does for a present simple main verb with he. |
| The students arrived early | didn’t they? | Use did for the past simple. |
Choose the pronoun carefully
The tag normally uses a pronoun rather than repeating a name or noun phrase. “Your neighbours have a dog, don’t they?” uses they for the neighbours. In this example, have means possession and the common tag uses do; compare “They have moved, haven’t they?”, where have forms the present perfect.
With everyone, someone and nobody, they is a normal choice in the tag: “Everyone knows the address, don’t they?” With nothing, use it: “Nothing has changed, has it?” In a there is sentence, keep there: “There’s a lift, isn’t there?”
Negative meanings and common exceptions
Words such as never, nobody and hardly make the statement negative in meaning. Use a positive confirmation tag: “You never eat breakfast, do you?” or “She hardly speaks in meetings, does she?” An adjective such as unhappy does not work this way: “He is unhappy, isn’t he?” still has a positive verb.
| Pattern | Example | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I’m in the right room, aren’t I? | Aren’t I? is the usual conversational tag. |
| I am not | I’m not late, am I? | The negative statement takes am I? |
| Let’s | Let’s check the answers, shall we? | This invites agreement with a suggestion. |
| Positive instruction | Pass me the notebook, will you? | Tone matters; please may make the request clearer. |
| Negative instruction | Don’t close the window, will you? | Will you? is the usual tag here. |
What your voice changes
A falling voice often suggests that you expect agreement. A rising voice more often signals a real check because you are less certain. Neither pattern makes every sentence automatically polite: your relationship with the listener and the situation still matter.
Alex: We’re meeting outside the library, aren’t we?
Sam: Yes, at ten.
Alex: You haven’t booked the room yet, have you?
Sam: No, I’ll do it now.
English also allows a positive statement with a positive tag: “So you’ve changed your mind, have you?” This can express interest, surprise or challenge. Learn ordinary confirmation tags first, then notice how speakers use these other patterns in context.
How to answer a negative statement
Answer according to the facts, rather than translating an agreement word directly from your first language. If somebody asks, “You don’t drive, do you?”, say “Yes, I do” if you drive, or “No, I don’t” if you do not. Adding the short verb phrase makes your meaning clearer.
Practice: complete the tags
Choose the ordinary confirmation tag for each sentence. Say the completed question aloud, then explain which word helped you choose the auxiliary.
- Nora is your tutor, ______?
- They didn’t bring their books, ______?
- You study on Fridays, ______?
- We have met before, ______?
- Nobody called this morning, ______?
- Let’s take a short break, ______?
- I’m next in the queue, ______?
- There isn’t another entrance, ______?
Answers and explanations
1. Isn’t she? Match is and replace Nora with she. 2. Did they? The past simple negative already supplies did. 3. Don’t you? The main verb is present simple with you. 4. Haven’t we? Have is the present perfect auxiliary.
5. Did they? Nobody gives a negative meaning, and the event is past simple. 6. Shall we? This is the normal tag after let’s. 7. Aren’t I? Remember the conversational exception. 8. Is there? Keep there and change the negative verb to positive.
For further examples, compare the British Council lesson on question tags with Cambridge’s explanation of tags. Practise with statements you genuinely need to check, such as lesson times or weekend plans.
