Mastering English Question Tags
Learn how to turn statements into mini-questions to confirm information or seek agreement in conversation.
1. The Polarity Rule (Opposites Attract)
The basic rule of question tags is simple: if the main sentence is positive, the question tag must be negative. If the main sentence is negative, the question tag must be positive.
You like coffee, don't you?
(± statement → − tag)
You don't like coffee, do you?
(− statement → ± tag)
2. Question Tags Across Major Tenses Conjugation Guide
The tag always matches the auxiliary verb or "to be" verb of the main sentence.
| Tense / Verb | Positive Example | Negative Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple (Be) | You are ready, aren't you? | You aren't late, are you? |
| Present Simple (Other Verbs) | He speaks English, doesn't he? | They don't know, do they? |
| Past Simple | She left early, didn't she? | You didn't call, did you? |
| Present Perfect | We have finished, haven't we? | He hasn't arrived, has he? |
| Future Simple (Will) | They will come, won't they? | You won't tell, will you? |
| Modal Verbs | You can swim, can't you? | He shouldn't do that, should he? |
3. Special Cases & Tricky Exceptions Irregular Tags
Certain structures do not follow the standard auxiliary verb pairing.
"I am" Tag
The negative tag for "I am" is irregular in English.
I am late, aren't I?
(not amn't I)
"Let's" Tag
Sentences starting with "Let's" always use "shall we" for the tag.
Let's go out, shall we?
Commands & Requests
Direct orders usually use "will you" or "won't you".
Open the window, will you?
4. The Role of Voice Intonation
How you say the question tag changes its entire meaning and function in conversation.
You are not really asking a question; you are just confirming something you already believe is true, expecting the listener to agree.
Example: It's a lovely day, isn't it? (Agreement expected)
You are genuinely asking a question because you are unsure and want the listener to verify the information.
Example: You are leaving now, aren't you? (Real inquiry)
Test your knowledge of Question Tags!
Practice identifying correct tags across tenses with our interactive grammar quizzes.