statement with be + , + opposite be tagWith be, copy be into the tag and switch positive/negative: She is ready, isn't she?
Tag Questions
B1Tag questions add a short question to a statement to check or confirm: You are coming, aren't you? Match the auxiliary, switch positive and negative, and use a pronoun.
What you'll learn
- Match the auxiliary in the tag to the main sentence.
- Switch positive to negative and negative to positive.
- Use a pronoun, not the full subject, in the tag.
- Use do, does, or did when the sentence has no auxiliary.
- Use tag questions to check information and invite agreement.
Structure
statement with auxiliary + , + opposite auxiliary tagIf the main sentence already has an auxiliary, use the same one in the tag: He has arrived, hasn't he?
statement with simple verb + , + do/does/did tagWith simple present or simple past main verbs, build the tag with do, does, or did: They left, didn't they?
Build a sentence
Pattern
You are ready,aren'tyou
You are ready, aren't you?
With be, copy the auxiliary and make the tag negative after a positive statement.
When to use
Checking facts
Use a tag when you think something is true and want the listener to confirm it. Maria called, didn't she?
Inviting agreement
Use a tag to pull the listener into the conversation. This café is nice, isn't it?
Sounding less direct
A tag can make a statement feel less hard and more conversational. We should email Tom, shouldn't we?
Markers
isn't it?aren't you?doesn't she?don't they?didn't he?won't we?
Common mistakes
Wrong
You are tired, are you?
Correct
You are tired, aren't you?
After a positive statement, the tag is negative.
Wrong
Lisa is your manager, isn't Lisa?
Correct
Lisa is your manager, isn't she?
The tag uses a pronoun, not the full name again.
Wrong
They have arrived, don't they?
Correct
They have arrived, haven't they?
The tag must match the auxiliary in the main sentence.
Wrong
Tom likes sushi, likesn't he?
Correct
Tom likes sushi, doesn't he?
Simple present verbs need do or does in the tag.
Wrong
She isn't busy, isn't she?
Correct
She isn't busy, is she?
After a negative statement, the tag is positive.
Common misconceptions
❝ The tag is always negative. ❞
Negative tags follow positive statements, but negative statements take positive tags: She isn't late, is she?
❝ I can build the tag by repeating the same subject words from the sentence. ❞
Use a pronoun in the tag. Anna called, didn't she? not didn't Anna?
Skills in this rule (6)
MATCH_THE_AUXILIARY_IN_THE_TAGw5Use the same auxiliary in the tag as in the main sentence
Copy the auxiliary from the main sentence into the tag: are → aren't, has → hasn't, will → won't. If the sentence has no auxiliary, use do, does, or did.
SWITCH_POSITIVE_AND_NEGATIVEw5Make the tag negative after a positive sentence and positive after a negative sentence
A positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag. The tag flips the polarity of the main sentence.
USE_A_PRONOUN_IN_THE_TAGw4Use a subject pronoun in the tag
The tag uses a pronoun, not the full noun phrase. Replace names and things with the right pronoun: Anna → she, the car → it, the students → they.
USE_DO_DOES_DID_WHEN_THERE_IS_NO_AUXILIARYw5Use do, does, or did in the tag when the main sentence has no auxiliary
With simple present and simple past main verbs, build the tag with do, does, or did. Choose the form from the tense and the subject.
USE_TAG_QUESTIONS_TO_CHECK_OR_CONFIRMw3Use tag questions to check information or invite agreement
Tag questions turn a statement into a quick check: You emailed Lisa, didn't you? Speakers use them when they expect the listener to confirm or respond.
RECOGNIZE_COMMON_TAG_PATTERNSw3Recognize common tag-question patterns in speech and writing
Notice short endings like isn't it?, don't they?, didn't she?, won't we? These patterns signal a statement plus a request for confirmation.