Positive statement + negative tag — englishillustrated.com

What is a Question Tag?

A question tag is a short question we add to the end of a statement. We use it when we think something is true, but we want to check if the other person agrees. Question tags turn statements into conversations. For example: 'You like coffee, don't you?' The statement is 'You like coffee,' and the tag is 'don't you?'

The Rule: Positive + Negative Tag

When the main sentence is POSITIVE, the question tag is NEGATIVE. This is the most common pattern. We use the same auxiliary verb (like 'do,' 'have,' 'will') in both the statement and the tag, but we make the tag negative. If there is no auxiliary verb in the statement, we add 'do' or 'does' in the tag.

How to Form It Step by Step

Step 1: Look at the auxiliary verb in your positive statement (is, are, have, will, can, etc.).

Step 2: Make it negative (isn't, aren't, haven't, won't, can't, etc.).

Step 3: Change the subject to a pronoun. The subject must change perspective:

I → you
you → I
he → he (stays the same)
she → she (stays the same)
we → we (stays the same)
they → they (stays the same)
the dog → it

Step 4: Add the negative auxiliary and pronoun at the end as a question.

Important — When there is NO auxiliary verb: Use 'do' or 'does' in the negative form ('don't' or 'doesn't') in the tag instead of repeating the main verb.

Example: "You like pizza, don't you?" (not "you like-do you?")

The auxiliary becomes negative in the tag: I like → don't I; He likes → doesn't he.

Positive Statement to Negative Tag: Auxiliary Verb Reference

Auxiliary: IS
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
He / She / It	is	isn't it/he/she?	She is kind, isn't she?
"is" is only used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). The tag uses the same pronoun as the subject.

Auxiliary: ARE
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
You	are	aren't you?	You are ready, aren't you?
We	are	aren't we?	We are late, aren't we?
They	are	aren't they?	They are happy, aren't they?
Special case — "I am": The tag for "I am …" is aren't I? (not "amn't I?") — e.g., I am right, aren't I?

Auxiliary: WAS
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
I	was	wasn't I?	I was right, wasn't I?
He / She / It	was	wasn't he/she/it?	He was tired, wasn't he?

Auxiliary: WERE
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
You	were	weren't you?	You were there, weren't you?
We	were	weren't we?	We were wrong, weren't we?
They	were	weren't they?	They were loud, weren't they?

Auxiliary: HAVE
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
I	have	haven't I?	I have finished, haven't I?
You	have	haven't you?	You have met her, haven't you?
We	have	haven't we?	We have arrived, haven't we?
They	have	haven't they?	They have left, haven't they?

Auxiliary: HAS
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
He / She / It	has	hasn't he/she/it?	He has gone, hasn't he?

Auxiliary: HAD
Pronoun	Positive Statement	Negative Tag	Full Example
I	had	hadn't I?	I had eaten, hadn't I?
You	had	hadn't you?	You had left early, hadn't you?
He / She / It	had	hadn't he/she/it?	She had slept, hadn't she?
We	had	hadn't we?	We had planned it, hadn't we?
They	had	hadn't they?	They had finished, hadn't they?

Formula

✔ Positive

Subject + + verb (present/future) + , + negative auxiliary + pronoun + ?

You like chocolate, don't you?

Examples

You are a student, aren't you?

Present tense of 'be' · Common greeting

She has a cat, doesn't she?

Present simple · Everyday conversation

They will come tomorrow, won't they?

Future tense · Making plans

It is sunny today, isn't it?

Present tense · Small talk about weather

You can swim, can't you?

Modal verb · Asking about ability

He drinks tea, doesn't he?

Present simple · Routine habits

When to use it

Checking Information

Use question tags when you think you know something but want to confirm it with the other person.

"You work at the hospital, don't you? I think I saw you there last week."

Making Conversation

Question tags help you keep a conversation going and make it more friendly and interactive.

"That movie was great, wasn't it? Did you enjoy the ending?"

Polite Requests

Question tags can soften requests or statements and make them sound more polite.

"You wouldn't mind helping me, would you? I need assistance with this box."

Expressing Agreement

Use tags to express what you believe while inviting the listener to agree with you.

"English is not so difficult, is it? You're getting better every day!"

Signal words

isn't aren't doesn't don't didn't won't can't haven't hasn't shouldn't

Common Mistakes

Wrong

You are busy, are you?

✓

Correct

You are busy, aren't you?

The tag must be NEGATIVE when the statement is positive.

Wrong

She likes dogs, does she?

✓

Correct

She likes dogs, doesn't she?

The auxiliary 'does' in the tag must be negative: 'doesn't'.

Wrong

They will help, will they?

✓

Correct

They will help, won't they?

With 'will,' the negative form in the tag is 'won't,' not 'will not.'

Wrong

You are coming to the party, are you?

✓

Correct

You are coming to the party, aren't you?

When the main clause is positive, the tag question must be negative, using 'aren't you' instead of 'are you'.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What to Remember

A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to check agreement.
When the main sentence is positive, the question tag must be negative.
Use the same auxiliary verb in the tag as in the main sentence.
If there is no auxiliary verb, use "do," "does," or "did" in the tag.
The subject pronoun in the tag matches the subject of the main sentence.

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What are question tags?

Negative statement + positive tag