Question Tags
Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements to check information or invite agreement. A positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Level B1
Questions
Summary
- Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements to check information or invite agreement. A positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Structure
positive statement, + negative tag? | negative statement, + positive tag?
Examples
- You're coming, aren't you?
- She doesn't smoke, does she?
- They live nearby, don't they?
- It isn't far, is it?
Common mistakes
- • Matching the polarity, e.g. 'You're coming, are you?' instead of 'aren't you?'.
- • Using the wrong auxiliary, e.g. 'She sings well, isn't she?' instead of 'doesn't she?'.
Related
More questions
Question Words
A1
Question words (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose) start information questions. They come before the auxiliary verb and subject.
Yes/No Questions
A1
Yes/no questions ask whether something is true and expect a yes or no answer. Form them by putting the auxiliary or 'be' before the subject.
Subject vs Object Questions
B1
When the question word is the subject (who or what does the action), no auxiliary is needed and word order stays like a statement. When it is the object, the usual question form with an auxiliary applies.