Question Tags

Form

Positive Sentence (+), + Negative Auxiliary + Pronoun?
(The most common pattern)

You are a student, aren’t you?

He likes coffee, doesn’t he?

They have finished, haven’t they?


Meanings

There are two key rules for forming question tags.

  • Rule 1: Use the same auxiliary verb.
    If there is no auxiliary, use do/does/did.
    He is smart, isn’t he?
    You like pizza, don’t you?
  • Rule 2: Use a subject pronoun.
    Never use a name or noun in the tag.
    Maria is here, isn’t she? (NOT isn’t Maria?)

Practice exercises