The Basic Rule
A question tag is a short question at the end of a statement. If the statement is positive, the tag is negative. If the statement is negative, the tag is positive. The tag uses the same auxiliary verb (or do/does/did) as the main verb.
Tense Matching
The tag must match the tense of the main verb. If there is no auxiliary verb, use do/does/did.
Special Cases
With 'I am', use 'aren't I?' (not 'amn't I'). With 'Let's', use 'shall we?'. With imperatives, use 'will you?' or 'won't you?'.
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Question tags are short phrases at the end of a statement — 'isn't it?', 'don't you?' — used to confirm, check, or keep a conversation going. They make you sound natural and friendly.
Forming a Tag
Repeat the auxiliary verb and subject, reversed in polarity: positive statement gets negative tag ('It's nice, isn't it?'), negative gets positive ('It isn't nice, is it?'). If there is no auxiliary, use do/does/did ('You like tea, don't you?').
Intonation Changes Meaning
Rising intonation asks a real question ('You're coming, aren't you?'). Falling intonation seeks agreement on something obvious ('Nice day, isn't it.'). This subtle cue is key to natural conversation and worth practicing aloud.
Common Tag Patterns
'Let's' takes 'shall we?'; 'I am' takes 'aren't I?'; imperatives take 'will you?'. These irregular tags are frequent in speech, so repeating them on SpeakNow builds confidence quickly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistakes cluster around polarity and auxiliary choice: a positive statement needs a negative tag and vice versa, but learners often match instead of flip. They also grab the wrong auxiliary ('He likes, doesn't he?' not 'don't he?'), and forget the irregular 'I am' takes 'aren't I?'. Intonation matters too: rising tone asks a real question, falling tone seeks agreement. Getting the tag wrong makes you sound unsure rather than natural.
Try This: A Quick Practice
Make five statements and add tags: 'It's cold, isn't it?', 'You like tea, don't you?', 'She can't drive, can she?', 'Let's go, shall we?', 'I'm late, aren't I?'. Say each twice — once with rising intonation (genuine question), once falling (agreement). SpeakNow's question-tags practice drills these aloud so the polarity flip and irregular forms become instinctive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I form a question tag?▼
Use the sentence's auxiliary verb + subject pronoun, with opposite polarity: 'She is, isn't she?' No auxiliary? Use do/does/did.
Why does intonation matter in tags?▼
Rising tone = genuine question; falling tone = confirmation of something obvious. It changes the social meaning of the tag.
What tag follows 'Let's'?▼
'Shall we?' as in 'Let's go, shall we?'. This irregular tag is common and worth practicing out loud.