Tag Questions
Learn how to add short questions at the end of statements to check information or ask for agreement. Tag questions are very common in English conversation and make your speech sound more natural and friendly.
⏰ When Do We Use Tag Questions?
To check information
- You’re a student, aren’t you?
- She lives here, doesn’t she?
To ask for agreement
- The weather is nice, isn’t it?
- They should arrive soon, shouldn’t they?
To make conversation more friendly
That was fun, wasn’t it?
You like coffee, don’t you?
📌 Structure
Positive Statement → Negative Tag:
- She is happy, isn’t she?
- You work here, don’t you?
Negative Statement → Positive Tag:
- They aren’t ready, are they?
- He doesn’t like spicy food, does he?
Match the Tense:
- She was late, wasn’t she?
- They will come, won’t they?
- You have finished, haven’t you?
Modal Verb in Statement → Same Modal in Tag:
may → mightn’t
can → can’t/cannot
should → shouldn’t
must → mustn’t
would → wouldn’t
will → won’t
could → couldn’t
Special Cases
With ‘I am’:
- I’m late, aren’t I? (Not “amn’t I?”)
With Let’s:
- Let’s go out, shall we?
With Imperatives:
Don’t move, will you?
Wait here, will you?
📝 Tips
Use rising intonation to check information
Use falling intonation to show you’re sure
Match the auxiliary verb with the main clause
If there’s no auxiliary, use do/does/did
💬 Examples
Different Tenses
- You live nearby, don’t you?
- She doesn’t study French, does she?
- They work hard, don’t they?
- You’re working late, aren’t you?
- They aren’t sleeping, are they?
- She’s cooking dinner, isn’t she?
- You went there, didn’t you?
- He didn’t call, did he?
- They arrived late, didn’t they?
Modal Verbs
- You can swim, can’t you?
- She could help us, couldn’t she?
- They can’t speak French, can they?
- We should leave early, shouldn’t we?
- You must finish this, mustn’t you?
- He shouldn’t be late, should he?
- You would like some tea, wouldn’t you?
- They will arrive tomorrow, won’t they?
- She wouldn’t mind helping, would she?
- They may be late, mightn’t they?
- You might need help, mightn’t you?
- She may have left, mightn’t she?