Question-tags in English Grammar Explanation with examples

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 Question Tags in English Grammar 

Explanation with examples


Learn how to use 'question tags in English grammar' effectively. This guide explains the rules, examples, and common mistakes to help you master this essential grammar tool.

Definition:

Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement to confirm or check information. 

Example: 'You’re coming, aren’t you?' 

(They usually match the verb's tense.)

Read the following sentences, and you will understand what a question tag is.
My younger brother is lazy, isn't he?
My father takes exercise regularly, doesn't he?
She doesn't go to kitties, does she?
We are all brothers, aren't we?
They searched the road properly, didn't they?

From the above sentences, you can understand that the question tag can be added by the following steps –
1. Write a sentence as it is and put a comma.
2. If the given sentence has a helping verb, use it. 
3. Make it negative if the given sentence is affirmative. 
4. If a sentence is already negative, avoid using the negative form.
    e.g. She doesn't go to kitties, does she?
5. Use a suitable pronoun for the subject after the verb.
6. End the sentence with a question mark. (?)

Use the short forms like:

is not = isn't 
are not = aren't 

Remember some special short forms as given below.
am not = aren't
Cannot = can't.
will not = won't
shall not = shan't


7. If there is no helping verb in the sentence, use a suitable 'do' form.
Do ----V1
Does ----- V1+s/es
Did -----V2

E.g. 
My father takes exercise regularly, doesn't he?
They searched the road properly, didn't they?
You sit here every day, don't you?

8. If 'have', 'has' and 'had' are used as main verbs (i.e., action verbs are not used with them), treat them as main verbs and use
do ---- have
does ---- has
did ------ had 

9. Use " will you?" as a question tag of an imperative sentence.
E.g. 
Bring a glass of water for me, will you?
Don't be late, will you? 

10. Use "shall we?" as a question tag of a sentence beginning with "Let's....."
E.g. 
Let's go to the library, shall we?
Let's not go there, shall we?

11. Use the pronoun "they" for the subjects like "Everyone", "Everybody", ......
E.g.
Everyone kept silent, didn't they?

12. If the sentence begins with the introductory "There...", use the word "there" in the tag.
E.g. 
There was a big crowd, wasn't there?

13. If the sentence begins with "This/That", use he/she/it accordingly.
E.g.
This is your favourite teacher, isn't she?
That is the tallest building in our town, isn't it?

14. If the sentence begins with "They", use the pronoun 'they'.
E.g. These are the best books, aren't they?


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