Question Tags: 10 Simple Rules

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.

Question Tags 10 Simple Rules Grammar

10 Simple Rules

#1 the same auxiliary verbs are used in the tags

  1. She is good, isn’t she?
  2. He doesn’t know tables, does he?
  3. Everyone is OK, aren’t they?

#2 when no auxiliary verbs, use the “do” verb

  1. Everyone danceddidn’t they?
  2. No one calleddid they?
  3. She works in a bank, doesn’t she?

#3 imperatives or commands are changed to “will you”

  1. Stand up, will you? Or won’t you?
  2. Have a look, will you? Or won’t you?
  3. Don’t talk, will you?

#4 “let’s” is changed to “shall we”

  1. Let’s go, shall we?
  2. Let’s eat, shall we?

#5 “let us” is changed to “will you”

  1. Let us go, will you?
  2. Let us eat, will you?

#6 “have, has, had” are used as main verbs and changed to “do, does, did”

  1. I have a clue, don’t I?
  2. She has a book, doesn’t she?
  3. You hadn’t finished your work, did you?

#7 some words are treated as negative

  1. His brother hardly visits, does he?
  2. None is responsible for the disaster, are they?
  3. 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)

  1. Someone is visiting us, aren’t they?
  2. Nobody has seen us, have they?
  3. Everyone likes you, don’t they?

#9 auxiliary with (something, nothing, everybody) remains the same

  1. Everything is good, isn’t it?
  2. Something has caused a problem, hasn’t it?
  3. Everybody has eaten, haven’t they?

#10 when verbs (dare and need) are used as auxiliary, use them in the tags

  1. You need not worry, need you?
  2. You need patience to win, don’t you?
  3. He dare not speak, dare he?
  4. He dares to speak, doesn’t he?

*Remember: when changing to negative use verb (do).

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