QUESTION TAGS: How to Form Tag Questions in English | Grammar Lesson

Tag Questions!!! We use question tags at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like: "Are you okay?" or "Do you think so?" They are very common in English.

Rules for Forming Question Tags
To form the two-word tag questions, you must follow the rules below:

The subject in the statement matches the subject in the tag.
The auxiliary verb or verb to be in the statement matches the verb used in the tag.
If the statement is positive, the tag is usually negative and vice versa.
Examples:

He's read this book, hasn't he?

He read this book, didn't he?

He's reading this book, isn't he?

He reads a lot of books, doesn't he?

He'll read this book, won't he?

He should read this book, shouldn't he?

He can read this book, can't he?

He'd read this book, wouldn't he?

Exceptions in Forming Question Tags
Statements with Negative Adverbs

The adverbs never, seldom, hardly, rarely, ... have a negative sense. We treat statements with these words like negative statements, so the question tag is normally positive.

Example:

We have never seen that, have we?

Statements begin with I'm

We use the verb form are/aren’t I when the subject is the first person singular.

Example:

I'm intelligent, aren't I?

Statements begin with Let's

We use shall we after sentences with Let’s.

Example:

Let's take the next bus, shall we?

Let's go home, shall we?

With Imperatives

Sometimes question tags are used with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won't you for invitations, and can you/can't you/will you/would you for orders.

Example:

Open the window, will you? (order - less polite)

Take a seat, won't you? (invitation - polite)

With There... structure

When we use the there... structure, there is reflected in the tag.

Example:

There's nothing wrong, is there?

There weren't any problems when you talked to Jack, were there?

Statements with Nobody/No one, Somebody/Someone, Everybody/Everyone as the subject

We use the pronoun they in question tags after statements with nobody/no one, somebody/someone, everybody/everyone as the subject.

Example:

Somebody wanted to borrow Jack's bike, didn't they?

Statements with Nothing/Something/Everything as the subject

When the subject is nothing/something, we use it in the tag question.

Example:

Something happened at Jack's house, didn't it?

Statements with This

When the subject is this, we use it in the tag question.

Example:

This will work, won't it?

Note:

We can use affirmative tag questions after affirmative sentences to express a reaction such as surprise or interest.

Example:

You’re moving to London, are you?

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