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Learn how to formulate positive and negative question tags, auxiliary inversion, and handle special exceptions.
A question tag (or tag question) is a very short clause added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. Question tags are extremely common in spoken English and are used to ask for confirmation, agreement, or to check if information is correct (e.g., 'It is cold today, isn't it?').
The basic rule for forming question tags is simple: a positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag. The tag is formed using the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the subject pronoun that matches the subject of the statement. If the statement does not have an auxiliary verb, the appropriate form of 'do' (do, does, did) is used instead.
According to CBSE board standards and Cambridge English exams, mastering question tags requires memorizing several special cases and exceptions. These include statements with 'I am' (which takes 'aren't I?'), imperatives (which take 'will you?' or 'shall we?'), and sentences containing semi-negative words like 'hardly', 'barely', or 'scarcely', which require a positive tag because the statement is logically negative.
All 8 grammar rules for Question Tags
A positive statement takes a negative question tag. A negative statement takes a positive question tag.
Form the question tag using the same auxiliary or modal verb found in the main statement.
If the statement does not contain an auxiliary or modal verb, use the appropriate form of 'do' (do, does, did) in the tag.
The subject of the question tag must always be a personal pronoun that matches the subject of the statement in person, gender, and number.
The question tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'. The question tag for 'I am not' remains 'am I?'.
For imperative sentences (commands/requests), use 'will you?' or 'won't you?'. For suggestions starting with 'Let's', use the tag 'shall we?'.
Statements containing words like hardly, scarcely, rarely, barely, seldom, or nobody are grammatically negative and must take a positive tag.
When the subject of the statement is an indefinite pronoun like everyone, someone, nobody, or everybody, use 'they' as the pronoun in the tag, adjusting the verb to plural.
8 worked examples with analysis
The weather is very pleasant today, isn't it?
A positive statement with the linking verb 'is' takes the negative tag 'isn't it?'.
She has not completed her graduation yet, has she?
A negative statement with auxiliary 'has' takes the positive tag 'has she?'.
Ravi works in a software firm, doesn't he?
The statement is in simple present tense without an auxiliary, so singular 'doesn't' is used in the tag.
I am standing next in the line, aren't I?
This shows the special exception: 'I am' is paired with the negative tag 'aren't I?'.
Let's begin our project work today, shall we?
Suggestions introduced by 'Let's' (let us) always take the question tag 'shall we?'.
He can hardly walk after the long trek, can he?
Since 'hardly' makes the statement negative, the tag must be positive ('can he?').
Somebody has left their umbrella, haven't they?
The singular indefinite pronoun 'Somebody' is replaced by 'they' in the tag, requiring the plural auxiliary 'haven't'.
Don't make noise in the corridor, will you?
A negative imperative command takes the positive question tag 'will you?'.
5 common mistakes students make — and how to fix them
He is a good student, is he?
He is a good student, isn't he?
I am selected for the team, am not I?
I am selected for the team, aren't I?
She went to Delhi yesterday, goesn't she?
She went to Delhi yesterday, didn't she?
You don't know the answer, don't you?
You don't know the answer, do you?
Nobody liked the performance, didn't they?
Nobody liked the performance, did they?
15 practice questions — fill-blank, MCQ, transform & more
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
It is raining heavily, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
You haven't seen my keys, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
Raman wrote a wonderful poem, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
She speaks fluent French, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
I am taller than you, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
Let's plan a picnic for Sunday, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
He seldom goes out in the evening, ______?
Fill in the blank with the correct question tag.
Please keep quiet, ______?
Fill in the blank.
They will arrive soon, ______?
Fill in the blank.
Everybody was present at the party, ______?
Fill in the blank.
We must not delay, ______?
Fill in the blank.
There is a nest in the tree, ______?
Fill in the blank.
You can solve this puzzle, ______?
Add a question tag to: 'She has a beautiful voice.'
She has a beautiful voice.
Fill in the blank.
I am not in your way, ______?
Add the correct question tag: 'She is a great pianist, ______?'
10 key revision points for quick review before exams
A question tag is a brief question added to the end of a statement.
Positive statements take negative tags; negative statements take positive tags.
Form tags using auxiliary/modal verbs from the statement (e.g., have, can).
If there is no auxiliary, use do, does, or did.
The subject of a question tag must be a personal pronoun matching the statement's subject.
The tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'.
Distributives and indefinite pronouns (someone, nobody) take 'they' as the pronoun in the tag.
Imperatives take 'will you?' or 'won't you?' as tags.
Suggestions starting with 'Let's' take the tag 'shall we?'.
Semi-negative words (seldom, hardly, rarely) require positive tags.
Frequently asked questions about Question Tags