Question Tags
Learn how a short tag added to a statement checks agreement, why it usually reverses the statement’s polarity, and how it borrows its auxiliary verb and pronoun from the statement itself.
Checking agreement
A question tag turns a statement into a quick check.
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement. It is used to confirm information the speaker already believes, or to invite the listener to agree.
In the sentence It’s cold today, isn’t it?, the statement it’s cold today is positive, so the tag isn’t it is negative. Both the statement and the tag use the same auxiliary verb, is.
A question tag is built from two parts: an auxiliary verb, and a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the statement.
Before you begin
Question tags are one pattern of question formation.
This lesson focuses on question tags specifically. Question formation as a whole includes three other patterns, each covered in its own lesson.
If you would like an overview of how questions are formed in general, begin with the Question Formation page.
The central idea
A statement alone is not the same as a statement being checked.
Compare a plain statement with the same statement followed by a tag.
01
Statement
It’s cold today.
02
Statement with a Tag
It’s cold today, isn’t it?
The useful question is: what does the tag borrow from the statement?
The tag isn’t it borrows its auxiliary verb, is, and its pronoun, it, directly from the statement, while reversing whether the statement is positive or negative.
Reversing the polarity
A positive statement usually takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Positive statement, negative tag
She likes coffee, doesn’t she?
Negative statement, positive tag
She doesn’t like coffee, does she?
The tag mirrors the statement, in reverse
Whichever polarity the statement has, the tag switches to the opposite one, while keeping the same auxiliary verb.
Building the tag
The tag borrows its auxiliary verb from the statement.
With be
They are ready, aren’t they?
With have, used as an auxiliary
You‘ve finished, haven’t you?
With a modal verb
He can swim, can’t he?
With do support
They left early, didn’t they?
When the statement has no other auxiliary verb, the tag uses do, does or did, matching the statement’s tense.
The tag uses a pronoun
Even when the subject is a name, the tag uses a pronoun instead.
Sarah is coming to the party, isn’t she?
The subject of the statement is the name Sarah, but the tag replaces it with the matching pronoun, she, rather than repeating the name.
Two different purposes
A tag can ask a genuine question, or invite agreement.
A genuine question
You locked the door, didn’t you?
The speaker is not certain of the answer, and is genuinely asking for confirmation.
An invitation to agree
It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
The speaker already believes the statement is true, and is inviting the listener to agree with it.
A useful decision guide
Ask about polarity, the auxiliary verb, and the subject.
01
Is the statement positive or negative?
The tag takes the opposite polarity.
02
Which auxiliary verb does the statement use?
The tag reuses that same auxiliary verb.
03
What is the subject of the statement?
The tag replaces it with the matching pronoun.
04
Is the statement being genuinely questioned, or agreed with?
Both use the same structure; the difference lies in the speaker’s certainty.
Common mistakes
The tag’s polarity, auxiliary verb and pronoun each need to match the statement correctly.
The tag should reverse the statement’s polarity.
Not: She likes coffee, does she?
Correct: She likes coffee, doesn’t she?
A positive statement is usually checked with a negative tag, not another positive one.
The tag must reuse the statement’s own auxiliary verb.
Not: They are ready, don’t they?
Correct: They are ready, aren’t they?
Since the statement already uses are, the tag reuses are rather than adding do.
The tag uses a pronoun, not the repeated noun.
Not: Sarah is coming, isn’t Sarah?
Correct: Sarah is coming, isn’t she?
The tag always refers back to the subject with a matching pronoun.
Check your understanding
Which tag correctly completes each statement?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence.
The meeting is at nine, __________?
✅ Exactly! The statement is positive, so the tag is negative.
❎ Not quite. Check the polarity of the statement first.
Is the statement positive or negative?
She doesn’t enjoy cooking, __________?
✅ Exactly! The statement is negative, so the tag is positive.
❎ Not quite. Look at the word “doesn’t” in the statement.
Is the statement positive or negative?
They’ve already left, __________?
✅ Exactly! The statement already uses have, so the tag reuses it.
❎ Not quite. Look at the auxiliary verb already present in the statement.
What auxiliary verb is contracted in “they’ve”?
Choose the best explanation
Select the sentence that explains the tag correctly.
Why is “She likes coffee, does she?” not correctly formed?
✅ Exactly! A tag usually reverses the polarity of the statement it follows.
❎ Not quite. Compare the statement’s polarity to the tag’s polarity.
Why does “Sarah is coming, isn’t Sarah?” need to be corrected?
✅ Exactly! The tag replaces the name with the pronoun that matches it.
❎ Not quite. Compare how the subject appears in the statement and in the tag.
Try it another way
Complete each question tag.
Type the missing words.
✅ Exactly! The tag reuses can and reverses the polarity.
❎ Not quite. Reuse the modal verb from the statement, and reverse its polarity.
✅ Exactly! The statement is negative, so the tag is positive.
❎ Not quite. Check the polarity of the statement first.
Quick review
A tag reuses the statement’s auxiliary verb, and usually reverses its polarity.
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement, used to check agreement or confirm information.
A positive statement usually takes a negative tag; a negative statement usually takes a positive tag.
The tag reuses the same auxiliary verb as the statement, adding do, does or did only if no other auxiliary verb is present.
The tag refers back to the subject with a matching pronoun, even when the subject is a name.
Remember
Check the statement’s polarity, then reverse it in the tag.
Identify whether the statement is positive or negative, reuse its auxiliary verb, and switch to the opposite polarity for the tag itself.