Ever wondered how native speakers make their conversations sound so natural?
The secret often lies in question tags, those short phrases like “isn’t it?” or “don’t you?” that turn simple statements into engaging dialogue.
In this guide, you’ll learn what question tags are, how to use them correctly, and how they can make your English sound more fluent.
How to Form Question Tags
Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement to check information or keep a conversation going.
The basic rule is simple: Use the same auxiliary verb (helping verb) as in the main sentence, and invert the polarity.
Structure
- Positive statement use Negative tag
Example: She’s happy, isn’t she? - Negative statement use Positive tag
Example: They aren’t late, are they?
The table below shows how we use question tags in every day conversation clearly:
Statement | Tag | Example | Tenses |
| He plays tennis, | doesn’t he? | He plays tennis, doesn’t he? | Present tense |
| They left early, | didn’t they? | They left early, didn’t they? | Past tense |
| You can swim, | can’t you? | You can swim, can’t you? | Modal verbs |
| She’s ready, | isn’t she? | She’s ready, isn’t she? | Be verbs |
Special Cases
On the other hand, there are some special cases when forming question tags, such as:
- I am → aren’t I?
Example: I’m late, aren’t I? - Let’s → shall we?
Example: Let’s go, shall we? - Imperatives → will you / won’t you?
Close the door, will you?
When and Why We Use Question Tags
We use question tags to:
- Ask for confirmation. (You finished the report, didn’t you?)
- Seek agreement. (It’s a nice day, isn’t it?)
- Soften statements. (You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?)
Be careful not to use them in formal situations, as these expressions are generally used in spoken English.
In addition, the tone you use when saying something also has a different meaning. Tone changes meaning:
- Rising tone means you’re not sure, genuinely asking.
Example: You’re from Spain, aren’t you? (↗) - Falling tone means you’re confident, just confirming.
Example: You’re from Spain, aren’t you? (↘)
To help you better understand this material, here are the most common mistakes when someone forms sentences with question tags.
Type | Common Mistake | Correct Sentence | Explanation |
| Using the wrong auxiliary verb | She can dance, doesn’t she? | She can dance, can’t she? | The auxiliary verb must match the main verb (can → can’t) |
| Forgetting to invert polarity | He’s tired, is he? | He’s tired, isn’t he? | A positive statement should pair with a negative tag |
| Repeating the subject instead of using a pronoun | Maria is coming, Maria isn’t she? | Maria is coming, isn’t she? | Always use a pronoun in the tag, not the full noun |
| Using the wrong tense in the tag | They went to the park, don’t they? | They went to the park, didn’t they? | The tag must use the same tense as the main clause. |
| Adding a tag after a question | Where are you going, aren’t you? | No tag needed, question tags are added to statements, not direct questions. | |
| Forgetting special cases | I’m late, am I not? | I’m late, aren’t I? | “I am” becomes “aren’t I?”, remember the special cases |
| Confusing meaning with double negatives | You didn’t see anyone, didn’t you? | You didn’t see anyone, did you? | Two negatives can confuse the meaning, keep polarity consistent. |
| Overusing question tags in formal writing | The results are significant, aren’t they? (in a report) | The results are significant. (no tag) | Question tags are for spoken or informal English, not essays or reports. |
Responding to Question Tags
When replying, remember that you respond to the statement, not the tag!
Statement | Meaning | Correct Response |
| She’s coming, isn’t she? | Positive | Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t. |
| He didn’t call, did he? | Negative | No, he didn’t. / Yes, he did. |
| You can swim, can’t you? | Positive | Yes, I can. / No, I can’t. |
Practice: Fill in the blanks
Now, try filling in the blanks with the correct words.
- They went out, _____?
- You don’t like coffee, _____?
- He’ll call later, _____?
- You can speak French, _____?
- They haven’t finished yet, _____?
Tip: Say each sentence out loud! Notice how your tone changes: rising when unsure, and falling when confirming.
Conclusion
Question tags make your English sound fluent, natural, and confident.
You’ve learned how to form them, when to use them, and how to respond correctly.
Now it’s your turn, listen to native speakers, repeat real examples, and try adding question tags in your own conversations.
Improve your English skills at EZClass. Also, check out the EZClass blog to discover more interesting articles.
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