What are question tags?
Questions tags or tag questions or tags are short questions we add at the end of a sentence to ask if someone agrees with us or to confirm information. It’s like saying, “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” to check if the other person thinks the same.
10 Simple Rules
#1 the same auxiliary verbs are used in the tags
- She is good, isn’t she?
- He doesn’t know tables, does he?
- Everyone is OK, aren’t they?
#2 when no auxiliary verbs, use the “do” verb
- Everyone danced, didn’t they?
- No one called, did they?
- She works in a bank, doesn’t she?
#3 imperatives or commands are changed to “will you”
- Stand up, will you? Or won’t you?
- Have a look, will you? Or won’t you?
- Don’t talk, will you?
#4 “let’s” is changed to “shall we”
- Let’s go, shall we?
- Let’s eat, shall we?
#5 “let us” is changed to “will you”
- Let us go, will you?
- Let us eat, will you?
#6 “have, has, had” are used as main verbs and changed to “do, does, did”
- I have a clue, don’t I?
- She has a book, doesn’t she?
- You hadn’t finished your work, did you?
#7 some words are treated as negative
- His brother hardly visits, does he?
- None is responsible for the disaster, are they?
- No book is a bad book, is it?
#8 Singular auxiliaries (is, was, has, does) with subjects (somebody, nobody, everybody) are changed into plural (they)
- Someone is visiting us, aren’t they?
- Nobody has seen us, have they?
- Everyone likes you, don’t they?
#9 auxiliary with (something, nothing, everybody) remains the same
- Everything is good, isn’t it?
- Something has caused a problem, hasn’t it?
- Everybody has eaten, haven’t they?
#10 when verbs (dare and need) are used as auxiliary, use them in the tags
- You need not worry, need you?
- You need patience to win, don’t you?
- He dare not speak, dare he?
- He dares to speak, doesn’t he?
*Remember: when changing to negative use verb (do).