English grammar: Add a question tag.
Learn how to add a question tag. Learn different rules that can be apply.
Though I have tried to include as many rules as possible, they are the main rules especially from exam point of view.
1. Question Tags
Definition
Question tags are short questions at the end of
statements.
They are mainly used in speech when we want to:
confirm that something is true or not, or
to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking
to.
2. It is raining.
It is raining, isn’t it?
Question
Answer
comma
question mark
full stop
question tag
3. To add a question tag we use the following rules:
Rule 1
Change the auxiliary verb from positive to negative and vice versa.
POSITIVE STATEMENT uses a NEGATIVE TAG
NEGATIVE STATEMENT uses a POSITIVE TAG
helping verb is, am, was, are, were, may, can, shall, will, must, …
4. Positive Statement Negative Tag
Snow is white, isn’t it?
I am going to my village, aren’t I?
Mary can speak English, can’t she?
Negative Statement Positive Tag
They aren’t funny, are they?
He shouldn’t say that, should he?
I can do no more, can I?
amn’t I / ain’t I
5. Positive Negative
is isn’t
was wasn’t
were weren’t
I am aren’t I
are aren’t
can can’t
will won’t
should shouldn’t
Use they for:
each
everyone / everybody
someone / somebody
anyone / anybody
none / nobody
6. Rule 2
Put WILL YOU in case of Imperative sentences (Order/Request)
Stop day dreaming, will you?
Pass me the pen, will you?
Send the parcel immediately, won’t you?
Keep quiet, can’t you?
will you can also
be used
Urgent request Impatient remark
7. Rule 3
Put SHALL WE in case of suggestion often introduced by Let’s
Let’s go for an outing, shall we?
Let’s do our homework first, shall we?
8. Rule 4
When there is no Direct Auxiliary is mentioned
When verb
ends in ‘s’ doesn’t
Present
Tense don’t
Past Tense didn’t
Kishore studies hard, doesn’t he?
They shout a lot, don’t they?
She bought a dress, didn’t she?
9. Rule 5
When has, have or had are main verbs
has doesn’t
have don’t
had didn’t
She has a cycle, doesn’t she?
They have money, don’t they?
He had fever, didn’t he?
10. Rule 5
When has, have or had are auxiliary verbs
has hasn’t
have haven’t
had hadn’t
She has warned us, hasn’t she?
The bells have rung, haven’t they?
He had been to town, hadn’t he?