🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What Are Question Tags?

Question tags (also called echo questions or tail questions) are short questions added to the end of a statement. They turn a statement into a yes/no question, asking for confirmation. They're common in casual conversation and show engagement.

Short answer

A question tag is a small question added to the end of a statement — like 'You're coming, aren't you?' or 'He doesn't know, does he?' They ask for agreement or confirmation and reverse polarity from the main clause.

How to Form a Question Tag

1
1. Look at the main verb
Positive: use positive auxiliary. Negative: use negative auxiliary.
↓
2
2. Find the auxiliary
be, have, do, will, can, etc. If none, add 'do/does/did'.
↓
3
3. Reverse the polarity
Positive statement → negative tag. Negative statement → positive tag.
↓
4
4. Add the subject pronoun
Use the matching pronoun: I→you, you→I, he→he, they→they, etc.

Step-by-step worked examples

Form a question tag for: 'She has finished her work.'

Main verb: 'has' (present perfect positive)
Reverse polarity: use 'hasn't' (negative)
Add pronoun: 'hasn't she'
Full tag: 'She has finished her work, hasn't she?'

Form a question tag for: 'They don't like pizza.'

Main verb: 'do' (negative)
Reverse polarity: use positive 'do'
Add pronoun: 'do they'
Full tag: 'They don't like pizza, do they?'

Form a question tag for: 'You'll be there tomorrow.'

Main verb: 'will' (future positive)
Reverse polarity: 'won't' (negative)
Add pronoun: 'won't you'
Full tag: 'You'll be there tomorrow, won't you?'

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.'He's a teacher, __?'

Correct answer: B. Positive statement (is) → negative tag (isn't). Answer: 'He's a teacher, isn't he?'

Q2.'You didn't go, __?'

Correct answer: A. Negative statement (didn't) → positive tag (did). Answer: 'You didn't go, did you?'

Q3.'We can solve this, __?'

Correct answer: C. Positive (can) → negative tag (can't). Answer: 'We can solve this, can't we?'

Q4.'I'm late, __?'

Correct answer: C. Positive (am) → negative tag. Answer: 'I'm late, aren't I?' (not 'am I not')

📄Download this topic as a printable worksheet (PDF)Summary + 10 questions + answer key — print it, share it in class.↓

Study better with Bounlu apps

Notek

The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What Are Question Tags?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.

Get it free

PromyNever miss an exam or homework deadline with Promy: AI turns the dates in your inbox into reminders automatically.

Common mistakes

✗

Question tag has the same polarity as the statement. — Correct: Question tag reverses polarity — positive → negative, negative → positive.

✗

You can use any auxiliary in a question tag. — Correct: The tag must use the SAME auxiliary (or main verb) as the statement, or add 'do' if there's none.

✗

The subject pronoun stays the same. — Correct: Subject pronoun changes: 'I' becomes 'you', 'you' becomes 'I'; 'he/she' stays 'he/she'.

✗

Question tags don't affect intonation. — Correct: Intonation changes meaning — falling = expecting agreement; rising = genuine question.

FAQ

What are question tags used for?

They ask for confirmation or agreement in casual conversation — softening a statement or checking understanding.

Are question tags the same in all English?

Mostly, but some regional differences exist — some speakers use rising intonation to make them sound like genuine questions.

Can you use question tags in formal writing?

Not typically — they're conversational. Formal writing prefers complete questions.

What's the difference between echo question and question tag?

They're often used interchangeably, but echo questions can also repeat part of what was said — 'You saw him?' Both seek confirmation.