Question tags

Form

auxiliary verb + subject

1. We use the same auxiliary verb in the tag as in the main sentence. If there is no auxiliary verb in the main sentence, we use do in the tag.
   • You live in Spain, don’t you?
2. If the auxiliary verb in the sentence is affirmative, the tag is negative.
   • You’re Spanish, aren’t you?
3. If the auxiliary verb in the sentence is negative, the tag is affirmative.
   • You’re not Spanish, are you?

Meaning

1. We use tag questions to confirm or check information or ask for agreement.
   • You want to come with me, don’t you?
   • You can swim, can’t you?
   • You don’t know where the boss is, do you?
   • This meal is horrible, isn’t it?
   • That film was fantastic, wasn’t it?
2. We use tag questions to check whether something is true.
   • The meeting’s tomorrow at 9am, isn’t it?
   • You won’t go without me, will you?

Additional points

1. In the present form of be: In an affirmative statement, if the subject is “I”, the auxiliary changes to aren’t in the tag.

   • I’m sitting next to you, aren’t I?
   • I’m a little red, aren’t I?

2. With let’s, the tag is shall we?

   • Let’s go to the beach, shall we?
   • Let’s have a coffee, shall we?

3. With an imperative, the tag is will you?

   • Close the window, will you?
   • Hold this, will you?

4. We use an affirmative tag after a sentence containing a negative word such as never, hardly, nobody.

   • Nobody lives in this house, do they?
   • You’ve never liked me, have you?

5. When the subject is nothing, we use “it” in the tag.

   • Nothing bad happened, did it?
   • Nothing ever happens, does it?

6. If the subject is nobody, somebody, everybody, no one, someone or everyone, we use “they” in the tag.

   • Nobody asked for me, did they?
   • Nobody lives here, do they?

7. If the main verb in the sentence is have (not an auxiliary verb), it is more common to use do in the tag.

   • You have a Ferrari, don’t you?
   • She had a great time, didn’t she?

8. With used to, we use “didn’t” in the tag.

   • You used to work here, didn’t you?
   • He used to have long hair, didn’t he?

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

   • You’re moving to Brazil, are you?

Pronunciation

1. If we don’t know the answer, it is a real question and we use a rising intonation with the tag.
   • You don’t know where the boss is, do you? ↗
2. If we know the answer and are just confirming the information a falling intonation is used with the tag.
   • That film was fantastic, wasn’t it? ↘