What are question tags?
Question tags are short questions added at the end of statements. They are formed with auxiliary verbs and are used a) to check if a piece of information is true or not, and b) to trigger a response from the person we are talking to.
Things to remember about question tags
- If the verb in the statement is positive, we use a negative auxiliary in the question tag, and if the verb is negative, we use a positive auxiliary.
Examples:
- Susan is from England (statement), isn’t she? (question tag).
- You don’t have a driving license (statement), do you? (question tag).
| Sentence verb | Question tag auxiliary |
| positive | negative |
| negative | positive |
- The question tag must match the tense of the verb.
Examples:
- They didn’t take the exam, did they? (past simple)
- She sings well, doesn’t she? (present simple)
- Sam will attend the conference, will he? (future simple)
Exercises
A/ Add appropriate question tags to complete the following sentences
- Rania will come, _______ .
- Cars pollute the environment, _______ .
- You can sing sweetly, _______ .
- Andrew was not at home, _______ .
- Rami loves dance, _______ .
- He speaks English very well, _______ .
- Everyone was very intelligent, _______ .
- You haven’t bought a new mobile, _______ .
- I am a student, _______ .
- She broke her leg, _______ .
- They won’t lie, _______ .
- You don’t know the answer, _______ .
- Sonia is not there, _______ .
B/ Choose the correct question tag from the list
1. He hasn’t arrived, ……………………..?
- has he
- did he
- hasn’t h
2. Sam left in the morning, ……………………..?
- did he
- didn’t he
- hadn’t he
3. You live with him, …………………………?
- do you
- don’t you
- didn’t you
4. He works hard, …………………………?
- does he
- doesn’t he
- did he
5. They recognized him, …………………………?
- did they
- didn’t they
- hadn’t they
6 He married his childhood sweetheart, ………………………..?
- didn’t he
- did he
- hadn’t
7. Edison was not a brilliant student, ………………………..?
- was he
- wasn’t he
- isn’t he
8. You slept the whole day yesterday, ………………………….?
- did you
- didn’t you
- hadn’t you
9. Nobody called, ……………………………?
- did they
- didn’t they
- hadn’t they
10. The children delivered a splendid performance, ……………………?
- did they
- didn’t they
- don’t they
11. He never helps anyone, ………………………..?
- does he
- doesn’t he
- didn’t he
12. You never waste a single opportunity to criticize me, ……………….?
- do you
- don’t you
- didn’t you
