Question tags

1. A question tag is a short question (e.g. isn't it? haven't we?) that we can add at the end of a statement:

Henry: We've met before, haven't we?
Jeff: Yes, we have.

2. Look at this part of a conversation:

Anna: Sandra is Swiss.
David: No, she's French, isn't she?

(= I thought she was French, but am I wrong?)


When tag question really are questions, like David's the voice up at the end.

but when tag questions are not really questions, the voice goes down at the end:

That was a boring programme, wasn't it?
(=I think that was a boring programme.)


3. Note that the verb we use in the tag depends on the verb used in the statement:

Verb + Tag

be: You're French aren't you?

verbs: He plays golf doesn't he?

auxiliary verb: It has arrived hasn't it?

Thus, most verbs use do/does, while be and auxiliary verbs use the same verb in the question tag.

4. A positive statement has a negative tag:

Positive + Negative

I'm right aren't I?
(Not am't I?)
You're 18, aren't you?
They're getting tired, aren't they?
They were friendly, weren't they?
He lives in France, doesn't he?
You speak Spanish, don't you?
You passed your exams, didn't you?
She has left, hasn't she?
You can drive, can't you?
The bus will come soon, won't it?

5. A negative statement has a positive tag:

Negative + Positive

It isn't very cheap, is it?

We aren't going to be late, are we?

She wasn't angry, was she?
You don't like this, do you?
She didn't win, did she?
She hasn't visited Ireland, has she?
She can't drive, can she?
It won't rain today, will it?