What are question tags?

A question tag is a short question we add to the end of a statement. We use question tags to ask for confirmation or agreement. For example: "You like coffee, don't you?" The main statement is "You like coffee" and the question tag is "don't you?". Question tags are very common in spoken English and informal writing.

The basic rule is simple: if the main verb is positive, the question tag is negative. If the main verb is negative, the question tag is positive. You repeat the auxiliary verb (like do, does, did, is, are, can, will) in the question tag. For example: "She works here, doesn't she?" (positive statement → negative tag) and "You don't like pizza, do you?" (negative statement → positive tag).

When to Use Question Tags

Use question tags when you want to confirm something you already believe is true. You are not asking a real question—you expect the other person to agree with you. For example, if you see your friend wearing a new jacket, you might say: "That's a new jacket, isn't it?" You already know it is new. The tag asks the person to confirm what you think. Question tags are friendly and polite in conversation.

Important Grammar Rules

Remember: the pronoun in the question tag must match the subject of the main statement. If the statement is "Tom is happy," the tag is "isn't he?" (not "isn't it?"). Also, if there is no auxiliary verb in the statement, use "do," "does," or "did." For example: "You like pizza, don't you?" The verb "like" has no auxiliary, so we add "do" in the tag.

How to Choose the Right Question Tag

Q1: Was the action in progress at a specific past moment?

Yes

Q2: Did another action interrupt it?

Yes

Past Continuous

Example

She was reading when the phone rang, wasn't she?

Past Continuous

Example

They were still talking at midnight, weren't they?

Q3: Did it happen before another past event?

Yes

Q4: Was it ongoing up to that earlier event?

Yes

Past Perfect Continuous

Example

He had been working for hours before he stopped, hadn't he?

Past Perfect

Example

They had left before she arrived, hadn't they?

Past Simple

Example

You visited Paris last year, didn't you?

Q1: Is the action happening right now or temporarily?

Yes

Present Continuous

Example

She is studying right now, isn't she?

Q2: Does it connect past experience or result to now?

Yes

Q3: Has it been ongoing until now?

Yes

Present Perfect Continuous

Example

You have been waiting for a long time, haven't you?

Present Perfect

Example

They have finished the project, haven't they?

Present Simple

Example

He works every day, doesn't he?

Q1: Is it a pre-arranged plan or fixed appointment?

Yes

going to (or Present Continuous for schedules)

Example

You are going to meet her tomorrow, aren't you?

Q2: Is it a spontaneous decision or prediction?

Yes

Q3: Will it be in progress at a future moment?

Yes

Future Continuous

Example

She will be sleeping at 10 pm, won't she?

Future Simple (will)

Example

It will rain tomorrow, won't it?

Q4: Will it be completed before a specific future point?

Yes

Future Perfect

Example

They will have finished by noon, won't they?

Future Simple (will)

Example

He will call you later, won't he?

Formula

✔ Positive

Subject + positive verb + , + auxiliary/modal + not + pronoun + ?

You live here, don't you?

✖ Negative

Subject + negative verb + , + auxiliary/modal + pronoun + ?

They don't like coffee, do they?

Examples

You speak English, don't you?

Positive statement + negative tag · Confirmation

She doesn't live here, does she?

Negative statement + positive tag · Seeking agreement

They are coming tomorrow, aren't they?

Positive statement with 'be' verb · Everyday conversation

He can swim, can't he?

Modal verb 'can' · Expressing knowledge

We didn't forget the bags, did we?

Negative past statement + positive tag · Checking facts

Your mother is a teacher, isn't she?

Positive statement with 'be' verb · Polite confirmation

When to use it

Confirming Information

Use question tags to check information you think is true and want the other person to confirm.

"You're from Spain, aren't you?"

Polite Conversation

Question tags make statements sound more polite and friendly in everyday conversation.

"That's a lovely dress, isn't it?"

Seeking Agreement

Use them when you want someone to agree with your opinion or observation.

"The weather is nice today, isn't it?"

Reminding Someone

Question tags can politely remind someone of something they already know.

"You promised to call me, didn't you?"

Signal words

don't doesn't didn't isn't aren't wasn't weren't can't won't haven't hasn't haven't you isn't it aren't they

Common Mistakes

Wrong

You like pizza, do you?

✓

Correct

You like pizza, don't you?

Positive statement needs negative tag. Use 'don't' not 'do'.

Wrong

She doesn't work here, doesn't she?

✓

Correct

She doesn't work here, does she?

Negative statement needs positive tag. Use 'does' not 'doesn't'.

Wrong

He can speak French, can he?

✓

Correct

He can speak French, can't he?

Positive statement with 'can' needs negative tag 'can't'.

Wrong

They are happy, are they?

✓

Correct

They are happy, aren't they?

Positive 'are' needs negative tag. Use 'aren't' not 'are'.

Wrong

You came yesterday, do you?

✓

Correct

You came yesterday, didn't you?

Past statement needs 'did' not 'do'. Use 'didn't' for negative tag.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What to Remember

A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement for confirmation.
If the main verb is positive, make the question tag negative, and vice versa.
Repeat the auxiliary verb from the main statement in the question tag.
Question tags are common in spoken English and informal writing for asking agreement.
The intonation of a question tag matters: rising tone asks a real question, falling tone seeks confirmation.

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Questions — common mistakes

Positive statement + negative tag