Want to make your English conversations more engaging? Learn how to use question tags! These little additions to the end of sentences can really boost your spoken English and make you sound more natural. This lesson will help you understand and use question tags effectively to improve your grammar and speaking skills.

What are Question Tags?

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements. We use them to check if we are right about something, or to encourage someone to agree with us. They turn a statement into a question, inviting a response from the listener. Learning to use question tags is a great way to enhance your spoken English practice and make your conversations flow more smoothly.

For example:

• It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
• You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
• They haven’t been to London, have they?

See? These short questions at the end are the question tags! They are super useful for confirming information and keeping the conversation going. If you’re an English for beginners learner moving towards intermediate level, mastering question tags is a fantastic step.

How to Form Question Tags

Forming question tags is all about opposites! The basic rule is:

• Positive statement + negative question tag
• Negative statement + positive question tag

Using Auxiliary Verbs

We usually form question tags using an auxiliary verb (like be, have, do) or a modal verb (like can, will, should) from the statement, and the correct pronoun. Let’s break it down:

Present Simple

If the statement is in the present simple tense, we use do or does in the question tag.

• You like coffee, don’t you? (statement uses ‘like’ – present simple, so tag uses ‘don’t’)
• She works here, doesn’t she? (statement uses ‘works’ – present simple, third person, so tag uses ‘doesn’t’)
• They don’t live in Paris, do they? (negative statement, so positive tag)

Past Simple

For past simple statements, we use did or didn’t in the question tag.

• He went to the cinema, didn’t he? (statement uses ‘went’ – past simple, so tag uses ‘didn’t’)
• You didn’t see the movie, did you? (negative statement, so positive tag)

Present Continuous

With the present continuous tense (using ‘is’, ‘are’, ‘am’), we use the same form in the tag, but in the opposite polarity.

• She is reading a book, isn’t she?
• They are playing football, aren’t they?
• You aren’t listening, are you?
• I am talking too much, aren’t I? (Special case: ‘am I not’ is grammatically correct, but ‘aren’t I’ is more common in spoken English)

Future Simple (will)

Using ‘will’ for the future is straightforward.

• You will come, won’t you?
• He won’t be late, will he?

Modal Verbs (can, should, must, etc.)

Question tags with modal verbs follow the same pattern.

• You can swim, can’t you?
• We should leave now, shouldn’t we?
• They must study harder, mustn’t they?

Using ‘Have got’

When using ‘have got’ (especially in British English), you can use ‘have’ in the question tag.

• You‘ve got a car, haven’t you?
• She‘s got blue eyes, hasn’t she?

However, with ‘have’ as a main verb (not ‘have got’), we use ‘do/does/did’.

• You have breakfast, don’t you? (Here ‘have’ is the main verb meaning ‘eat’)
• She has a dog, doesn’t she? (Here ‘has’ is the main verb meaning ‘own’)

Using Question Tags in Speaking

Question tags are incredibly useful in spoken English practice. They help you to:

• Check information: “This is your bag, isn’t it?” (You’re not completely sure and want to confirm.)
• Encourage agreement: “It’s a beautiful view, don’t you think?” (You expect the other person to agree.)
• Keep the conversation going: Using question tags invites the other person to respond and participate in the conversation.
• Soften statements: “That was a bit rude, wasn’t it?” (Softer than directly saying “That was rude.”)

Intonation is Key

The way you say a question tag can change its meaning! There are two main types of intonation:

• Rising intonation: Your voice goes up at the end of the tag. This usually means you are genuinely asking a question and you are not sure of the answer.
  
  Example: “He’s coming to the meeting, isn’t he? (voice goes up)” – You really want to know if he’s coming.
• Falling intonation: Your voice goes down at the end of the tag. This usually means you are expecting agreement. You are more sure of the answer and just want confirmation.
  
  Example: “It’s a lovely day, isn’t it? (voice goes down)” – You are pretty sure it’s a lovely day and expect the other person to agree.

Pay attention to intonation when you practice using question tags to improve English vocabulary and fluency in conversation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes learners make with question tags. Avoid these to learn English grammar correctly:

• Incorrect auxiliary verb: Incorrect: “You like pizza, are you?” Correct: “You like pizza, don’t you?” (Use ‘do’ for present simple)
• Wrong polarity: Incorrect: “It’s cold, is it?” (Statement is positive, tag should be negative) Correct: “It’s cold, isn’t it?“
• Forgetting the pronoun: Incorrect: “John is here, isn’t?” Correct: “John is here, isn’t he?” (Always use a pronoun in the tag)

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct question tag. Choose from the options if provided, or write the correct tag.

1. You are tired, ___________? (aren’t you / are you)
2. She doesn’t like chocolate, ___________? (does she / doesn’t she)
3. They went to Italy last year, ___________? (didn’t they / did they)
4. He will be there soon, ___________? (will he / won’t he)
5. We can help you, ___________? (can’t we / can we)
6. It’s raining, ___________? (is it / isn’t it)
7. You haven’t seen this film, ___________? (have you / haven’t you)
8. She is a doctor, ___________? (is she / isn’t she)
9. They don’t speak Spanish, ___________? (do they / don’t they)
10. He didn’t call you, ___________? (did he / didn’t he)

Answers

1. You are tired, aren’t you?
2. She doesn’t like chocolate, does she?
3. They went to Italy last year, didn’t they?
4. He will be there soon, won’t he?
5. We can help you, can’t we?
6. It’s raining, isn’t it?
7. You haven’t seen this film, have you?
8. She is a doctor, isn’t she?
9. They don’t speak Spanish, do they?
10. He didn’t call you, did he?

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve taken a great step in improving your English grammar by learning about question tags. Practice using them in your daily conversations to make your spoken English sound more natural and interactive. Remember to pay attention to intonation to convey the right meaning.

Want to practice your spoken English and question tags with an AI tutor? Visit Lingofrnd.com to discover how you can improve your speaking confidence. Download App now and start practicing!