Question Tags - Meaning, Definition and How to Use with Examples

Today is a good day, isn’t it?

All of us are used to asking questions when we need to gather some information. Using interrogative sentences is one way to do it. Do you know that there is also something called question tags? Well, let us learn what they are, their definition and usage. Also, check out the examples given in the article to have a clear idea of the same.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Question Tag?
  • Definition of a Question Tag
• Forming and Using Question Tags in Sentences
  • Verbs and Their Corresponding Question Tags
• Examples of Sentences with Question Tags
  • Positive Statements with Negative Question Tags
  • Negative Statements with Positive Question Tags
• Check Your Understanding on Question Tags
• Frequently Asked Questions on Question Tags

What Is a Question Tag?

A question tag can be generally described as a simple statement followed by a short question. Question tags are most often used in spoken language to confirm something that is said and also to encourage the listener to give an answer. In written language, the use of question tags can be seen only in dialogue writing and in stories which include dialogues.

Definition of a Question Tag

A question tag or a tag question, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a phrase such as ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘don’t you?’ that you add to the end of a statement in order to turn it into a question or check that the statement is correct, as in, you like mushrooms, don’t you?” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a question tag as “a short phrase such as “isn’t it” or “don’t you” that is added to the end of a sentence to check information or to ask if someone agrees with you”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a question tag is “a question (such as isn’t it in “it’s fine, isn’t it?”) added to a statement or command (as to gain the assent of or challenge the person addressed)”. The Collins Dictionary definition of a question tag is as follows – “In grammar, a question tag is a very short clause at the end of a statement which changes the statement into a question. For example, in ‘She said half price, didn’t she?’, the words ‘didn’t she’ are a question tag.”

Forming and Using Question Tags in Sentences

While question tags can look pretty easy to use, there are a few things you have to be mindful of when using them. Take a look at the following points to learn how to use a question tag accurately in a sentence.

• A sentence with a question tag takes the form – Statement, question tag?
• The punctuation of a sentence with a question is as follows – Capital letter to begin the sentence, a comma at the end of the statement, followed by the tag question and a question mark.
• The use of pronouns in question tags is another thing you need to focus on. If a pronoun is used as the subject, use the same pronoun in the question tag. On the other hand, if a noun (name of a person/place/animal/thing/idea) or a noun phrase acts as the subject in the statement, use a pronoun based on the gender/number in the question tag.
• If the statement is positive or affirmative, the question tag should be negative, and if the statement is negative, the question tag used should be positive.

For example: You are happy, aren’t you? (Positive statement – negative tag)

You aren’t happy, are you? (Negative statement – positive tag)

• When a statement expresses emotions of anger, surprise or interest, the question tag used has to be positive even though the statement is positive. For example: You think it is something to be proud of, do you?
• When there are two verbs (a main verb and an auxiliary/helping verb) in a sentence, the question tag should be formed using the auxiliary verb. For example: They were waiting for her, weren’t they?
• If the sentence contains a modal auxiliary verb, the question tag has to be formed using the modal verb. For example: The students should bring their parents for the meeting, shouldn’t they?
• Sentences with ‘have’, ‘has’ and ‘had’ as the main verb use the positive and negative form of ‘do’ as the question tag. For example: You have a pair of shoes, don’t you?
• Sentences with pronouns such as ‘nothing’ and ‘nobody’ should be considered negative statements and a positive tag has to be used. For example, Nothing is working, is it?
• Sentences with action verbs in the simple present tense form a question tag using the verb ‘do/does’ and its corresponding negative form. For example: He teaches Chemistry, doesn’t he?
• A sentence in the past tense will have question tags formed using the verb ‘did’. For example: Harry and Ron played tennis, didn’t they?
• As far as imperative sentences are concerned, use the positive or negative form of the verb ‘will’ to form the question tag.

Verbs and Their Corresponding Question Tags

Forming question tags is one of the easily comprehensible grammatical components in the English language. However, there are some exceptions. Check out the following table to have a clear idea of the verb and its question tag.

Examples of Sentences with Question Tags

Now that you know the function of question tags and how it is formed, read through the following 20+ question tag examples and analyse how it works.

Positive Statements with Negative Question Tags

• Shahina is the new lead, isn’t she?
• They have confirmed, haven’t they?
• Tharun and Varun are on their way to the airport, aren’t they?
• Her father is a doctor, isn’t he?
• The baby elephant that fell into the well was rescued by the locals, wasn’t it?
• Arranging transport and accommodation for the guests had been their first priority, hadn’t it?
• You like cookies, don’t you?
• Bring me some tissue papers, will you?
• They bought a new LED television, didn’t they?
• You have been looking for an apartment, haven’t you?

Negative Statements with Positive Question Tags

• Ritu and Brinha were not the best of friends from the start, were they?
• Sheena will not be attending the ceremony, will she?
• She would not have done that, would she?
• They have not arrived yet, have they?
• Buying a new car when you already had a loan wasn’t a good idea, was it?
• Making small talk isn’t your forte, is it?
• Balu, the bear isn’t the one that saves Mowgli from the monkeys, is it?
• All students have not submitted their assignments yet, have they?
• Tina had not informed the others about the change of venue, had she?
• You cannot survive without your phone, can you?

Positive Statements with Positive Question Tags to Express Interest, Anger and Surprise

• She is going ahead with her decision, is she?
• So they are moving to Italy, are they?
• You think this is a joke, do you?
• You’re just going to sit there, are you?
• So this is the way it is going to be from now on, is it?

Check Your Understanding on Question Tags

Here is an exercise for you to check how far you have understood the use of question tags. Go through and add question tags to the following sentences.

1. You must be there by 11:30 a.m., ___________

2. Gowri is not present today, ___________

3. The teacher had asked you to submit an address proof, ___________

4. He is the prime suspect, ___________

5. Harini and Gowtham were not here, ___________

6. Get me the duster, ___________

7. I don’t think your sister will be pleased to see this, ___________

8. You will have waited for me, ___________

9. They brought a bottle of wine when they came, ___________

10. Dom and Andreah have a baby girl, ___________

Find out if you have got them all right from the answers given below.

1. You must be there by 11:30 a.m., mustn’t you?

2. Gowri is not present today, is she?

3. The teacher had asked you to submit an address proof, hadn’t she?

4. He is the prime suspect, isn’t he?

5. Harini and Gowtham were not here, were they?

6. Get me the duster, will you?

7. I don’t think your sister will be pleased to see this, will she?

8. You will have waited for me, won’t you?

9. They brought a bottle of wine when they came, didn’t they?

10. Dom and Andreah have a baby girl, don’t they?

Check out more question tags exercises to improve your knowledge of question tags and its usage.