Question Tags: Aren't You? Don't You? Isn't It?
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Tag questions are short phrases added to the end of sentences to turn them into questions or seek confirmation.
- If the main sentence is positive, the tag is negative: 'You are happy, aren't you?'
- If the main sentence is negative, the tag is positive: 'You aren't happy, are you?'
- Use the same auxiliary verb (be, do, have, can, will) as the main sentence.
Question tags are short questions at the end of a statement used to check information or invite agreement.
The Basic Rule
Positive + Negative tag
She is your sister, isn't she?
He can drive, can't he?
They went to Paris, didn't they?
Negative + Positive tag
You haven't met him, have you?
She didn't call, did she?
It isn't working, is it?
| Main verb | Negative tag | Positive tag |
|---|---|---|
| is/are | isn't/aren't | is/are |
| have/has | haven't/hasn't | have/has |
| will | won't | will |
| can | can't | can |
| do/does | don't/doesn't | do/does |
| did | didn't | did |
Special Cases
I am late, aren't I? (not amn't I)
Let's go, shall we?
3. Tag Question Formation
| Statement | Auxiliary | Tag |
|---|---|---|
|
You are happy
|
are
|
aren't you?
|
|
You aren't happy
|
are
|
are you?
|
|
He likes pizza
|
does
|
doesn't he?
|
|
He doesn't like pizza
|
does
|
does he?
|
|
They went home
|
did
|
didn't they?
|
|
They didn't go home
|
did
|
did they?
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
is not
|
isn't
|
|
are not
|
aren't
|
|
do not
|
don't
|
|
does not
|
doesn't
|
|
did not
|
didn't
|
|
have not
|
haven't
|
|
will not
|
won't
|
Meanings
Tag questions are used to ask for confirmation or to encourage the listener to agree with the speaker's statement.
Seeking Confirmation
The speaker believes something is true and wants the listener to confirm it.
“You've been to London, haven't you?”
“She works here, doesn't she?”
Seeking Information
The speaker is genuinely unsure and is asking a real question.
“You don't have the keys, do you?”
“He isn't coming, is he?”
Social Softening
Used to make a statement sound less blunt or more polite.
“It's quite cold, isn't it?”
“That was a long meeting, wasn't it?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Statement + Negative Tag
|
You are ready, aren't you?
|
|
Negative
|
Statement + Affirmative Tag
|
You aren't ready, are you?
|
|
Simple Present
|
Statement + do/does tag
|
She works here, doesn't she?
|
|
Simple Past
|
Statement + did tag
|
They left early, didn't they?
|
|
Modal Verbs
|
Statement + modal tag
|
He can drive, can't he?
|
|
'I am' Exception
|
Statement + aren't I?
|
I am correct, aren't I?
|
|
There is
|
Statement + isn't there?
|
There is a problem, isn't there?
|
|
Imperative
|
Command + will you?
|
Close the door, will you?
|
Formality Spectrum
It is five o'clock, is it not? (Checking the time)
It's five o'clock, isn't it? (Checking the time)
It's five, right? (Checking the time)
Five, innit? (Checking the time)
Tag Question Logic
Polarity
- Positive Negative Tag
- Negative Positive Tag
Components
- Auxiliary Verb
- Pronoun Subject
Intonation Meaning
Formation Flow
Is the statement positive?
Auxiliary Verbs
Be
- • is
- • are
- • was
- • were
Do
- • do
- • does
- • did
Modals
- • can
- • will
- • should
- • would
Examples by Level
You are a student, aren't you?
It is cold, isn't it?
They are here, aren't they?
She is nice, isn't she?
You don't like coffee, do you?
He can swim, can't he?
We aren't late, are we?
You have a car, don't you?
You've finished your work, haven't you?
They won't be coming, will they?
I'm late, aren't I?
You didn't see the movie, did you?
You'd better leave now, hadn't you?
There's nothing to worry about, is there?
Everyone enjoyed the meal, didn't they?
You've been waiting long, haven't you?
You wouldn't happen to know the time, would you?
It's hardly the best time to ask, is it?
You've rarely been this busy, have you?
Little did he know, did he?
One should always be punctual, shouldn't one?
You'd rather not discuss this, would you?
Nothing could be simpler, could it?
You've been working on this for ages, haven't you?
Easily Confused
Learners often use tag questions when they need to ask a direct question.
Learners use 'right?' as a lazy tag question.
Learners mix up the word order.
Common Mistakes
You are happy, are you?
You are happy, aren't you?
He likes pizza, likes he?
He likes pizza, doesn't he?
It is cold, isn't cold?
It is cold, isn't it?
I am right, am not I?
I am right, aren't I?
They went home, didn't they go?
They went home, didn't they?
She can swim, can she?
She can swim, can't she?
You don't like it, don't you?
You don't like it, do you?
Everyone is here, aren't they?
Everyone is here, aren't they?
There is a cat, isn't it?
There is a cat, isn't there?
Nothing happened, did it?
Nothing happened, did it?
I'm going, am I not?
I'm going, aren't I?
You'd better go, would you?
You'd better go, hadn't you?
Let's go, let's not?
Let's go, shall we?
Sentence Patterns
It is ___, isn't it?
You have ___, don't you?
They didn't ___, did they?
You wouldn't ___ , would you?
Real World Usage
You're coming tonight, aren't you?
You have experience with this software, don't you?
The train leaves at 8, doesn't it?
This is the best movie ever, isn't it?
My order should be here soon, shouldn't it?
We have a test tomorrow, don't we?
Listen for the intonation
Don't forget the pronoun
The 'I am' rule
Regional tags
Smart Tips
Look at the main verb. If it's 'to be', use 'to be'. If it's any other verb, use 'do'.
Use a tag question instead of a direct question to soften your tone.
Always remember the 'aren't I' rule.
Use 'there' in the tag, not 'it'.
Pronunciation
Falling Intonation
Used when the speaker is stating a fact and expects agreement.
Rising Intonation
Used when the speaker is genuinely asking a question.
Confirmation
It's a nice day, isn't it? ↘
I know it is, and I want you to agree.
Inquiry
You're coming, aren't you? ↗
I'm not sure, please tell me.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Flip the switch: If the sentence is bright (positive), the tag must be dark (negative). If the sentence is dark (negative), the tag must be bright (positive).
Visual Association
Imagine a light switch on a wall. When you say a positive sentence, you flip the switch down to 'off' (negative). When you say a negative sentence, you flip it up to 'on' (positive).
Rhyme
Positive statement, negative tag, Negative statement, positive flag.
Story
Sarah was at a party. She said, 'You're having fun, aren't you?' Her friend replied, 'I'm not having fun, am I?' Sarah realized the polarity flip was the key to their conversation. She practiced it all night.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, try to turn every statement you make into a tag question while talking to yourself or a pet.
Cultural Notes
Tag questions are used much more frequently in the UK than in the US. The slang tag 'innit' is very common in London.
Americans often use 'right?' or 'yeah?' instead of full tag questions.
Australians often use 'eh?' as a tag question.
Tag questions evolved from the need to confirm information in spoken discourse.
Conversation Starters
It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
You've been here before, haven't you?
You wouldn't happen to know where the station is, would you?
It's quite a long way to travel, isn't it?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
You are tired, ___?
He likes coffee, ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
They went home, went they?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Ella es simpática, ¿no?
Answer starts with: She...
A: You've been here before. B: Yes, ___.
Statement: You can swim.
Which tag is correct for 'It is raining'?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesYou are tired, ___?
He likes coffee, ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
They went home, went they?
you / aren't / happy / ?
Ella es simpática, ¿no?
A: You've been here before. B: Yes, ___.
Statement: You can swim.
Which tag is correct for 'It is raining'?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
To confirm information or build rapport.
Yes, but it's informal.
Use 'do', 'does', or 'did'.
Yes, it is the standard form.
No, always use a pronoun.
Falling is a statement, rising is a question.
Rarely, they are mostly for speech.
Use 'am I?'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
¿verdad? / ¿no?
English tags must match the auxiliary verb and flip polarity.
n'est-ce pas?
English tags are highly variable based on the main clause.
nicht wahr?
English requires matching the auxiliary verb.
desu ne?
English uses verb-based tags; Japanese uses particles.
صح؟ (Sah?)
English tags are tied to the grammatical structure of the sentence.
是不是? (shì bú shì?)
English tags must conjugate and match the subject.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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