Question Tags - Study and Practice

Question Tags are commonly used in English for 2 main functions:

1) To get someone involved in a conversation, to encourage a response

With this type of question tag, the speaker may often know the answer.
Intonation tends to rise slightly and then fall at the end of the tag.
Example:
That barman was a bit rude, wasn't he? (falling intonation)
2) To confirm information that you think is true
With this type of question tag, the speaker expects the listener to know the answer
and is asking a genuine question.
Intonation tends to rise sharply at the end of the tag.
Example:
I switched off the iron before we came out, didn't I? (rising intonation)
How to Form Question Tags
Although other forms of tag, such as reinforcement tags, same-way tags and
attention signals exist in English, most question tags follow the following logic:
Positive statements
Say a positive statement, repeat the auxiliary verb in the negative, add the subject:
Hes absolutely crazy, isnt he?
Negative statements
Say a negative statement, repeat the auxiliary verb in the positive, add the subject:
He isn't crazy, is he?
Exceptions
There are many! Note the following:
Let's go out, shall we? (use shall after let's)
I'm older than you, aren't I? (use aren't after I'm)
Sign here, please, will/would you? (use will/would after imperatives)
Final Note
In many forms of spoken British English, a universal tag is sometimes preferred to
all the above complications:
Examples:
He lives here, innit? pronounced /init/
We didn't have enough money to get in, innit?
etc.
This is considered slang and incorrect by other speakers, and is rarely accepted in
exams!
Grammar Notes by Jason Anderson (c) 2003.
Exercise 1 Insert a Tag
Complete each question or statement with an appropriate tag. All the tags used in
these examples are inverted.
Examples:
Hes absolutely crazy, isnt he? Positive statement, negative tag
He isn't crazy, is he? Negative statement, positive tag
1. Youre Russian, ___________?
2. The capital of Mongolia is Ulan Bator, _________?
3. Youve done a lot of travelling, ___________?

4. You speak Farsi, _________?

5. Lets play a trick on him, _________?
6. Oh, shut up, _________!
7. You wouldnt hurt me, ___________?
8. Dont be too upset about it, ________?
9. Lets go to the pub tonight, _________?
10. You couldnt lend me a fiver, __________?
11. Therell be lots to see in Sicily, __________?
12. You cant smoke at Rose of York, __________?
13. Say something to me in Greek, _________?
14. There isnt any smog in the Highlands of Scotland, ________?
15. Your father works in Canada, ___________?
16. You met your husband in Canada, __________?
17. Help me with these bags, _________?
18. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, _________?
19. You havent broken that as well, __________?
20. There arent any theatres in Saudi Arabia, __________?
21. Sit down a moment, ________?
22. Look after this for a moment, _________?
23. You couldnt help me with my homework, __________?
24. There wont be too many people at the party, __________?
25. She looks really great, __________?
26. Your father doesnt drink whisky, _________?
27. You havent got a dog, ________?
28. Im a teacher, ___________?
29. There isnt any soccer violence in your country, __________?
30. Hes got a very peculiar voice, __________?
31. Oh, shut the door, _________?
32. Soho isnt a very nice area, ________?
33. You havent got a pen by any chance, _________?
34. Lets take a break, _________?
35.You dont like football, ________?
36. Theyre not exactly slim, _________?
37. Your brother cant drive, _________?
38. Shes never loved her parents, ________?
39. Its extremely cold in Siberia in the winter, ________?
40. Shes going to have a baby soon, ________?
41. Lets meet at 8, ________?
42. Some people are really crazy, _________?
43. Were going to Bournemouth on Saturday, _________?
44. Youd like to win a fortune on the lottery, __________?
45. You've been working late again, ____________?
46. The night bus service is very convenient, ________?
47. Ive been teaching for sixteen years, __________?
48. You must be careful when you go to Rio de Janeiro, __________?
49. Its been raining for days now, _________?
50. Im always right, _________?
Answers
Please Note: This lesson was created and is owned by J. Morley (c) 2003.

Answers
1. Youre Russian, aren't you?
2. The capital of Mongolia is Ulan Bator, isn't it?

3. Youve done a lot of travelling, haven't you?

4. You speak Farsi, don't you?
5. Lets play a trick on him, shall we?
6. Oh, shut up, will you!
7. You wouldnt hurt me, would you?
8. Dont be too upset about it, will you?
9. Lets go to the pub tonight, shall we?
10. You couldnt lend me a fiver, could you?
11. Therell be lots to see in Sicily, won't there?
12. You cant smoke at 'Rose of York, can you?
13. Say something to me in Greek, will/would you?
14. There isnt any smog in the Highlands of Scotland, is there?
15. Your father works in Canada, doesn't he?
16. You met your husband in Canada, didn't you?
17. Help me with these bags, will/would you?
18. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, wasn't he?
19. You havent broken that as well, have you?
20. There arent any theatres in Saudi Arabia, are there?
21. Sit down a moment, will/would you?
22. Look after this for a moment, will/would you?
23. You couldnt help me with my homework, could you?
24. There wont be too many people at the party, will there?
25. She looks really great, doesn't she?
26. Your father doesnt drink whisky, does he?
27. You havent got a dog, have you?
28. Im a teacher, aren't I?
29. There isnt any soccer violence in your country, is there?
30. Hes got a very peculiar voice, hasn't he?
31. Oh, shut the door, will/would you?
32. Soho isnt a very nice area, is it?
33. You havent got a pen by any chance, have you?
34. Lets take a break, shall we?
35.You dont like football, do you?
36. Theyre not exactly slim, are they?
37. Your brother cant drive, can he?
38. Shes never loved her parents, has she?
39. Its extremely cold in Siberia in the winter, isn't it?
40. Shes going to have a baby soon, isn't she?
41. Lets meet at 8, shall we?
42. Some people are really crazy, aren't they?
43. Were going to Bournemouth on Saturday, aren't we?
44. Youd like to win a fortune on the lottery, wouldn't you?
45. You've been working late again, haven't you?
46. The night bus service is very convenient, isn't it?
47. Ive been teaching for sixteen years, haven't I?
48. You must be careful when you go to Rio de Janeiro, mustn't you?
49. Its been raining for days now, hasn't it?
50. Im always right, aren't I?

Please Note: This lesson was created and is owned by J. Morley (c) 2003.