A tag question consists of two parts: a statement and a shortened yes/no question that refers to it and asks if the first statement is true. The two parts are separated by a comma.

When the main sentence is positive, the tag is negative. When the main sentence is negative, the tag is positive.
The noun in the first part becomes a pronoun in the tag
The second part (the tag) consists of a verb and pronoun only. A question tag repeats the helping verb of the main sentence.


For example:

John isn't coming here, is he?
George didn't know you, did he?
David was watching a movie, wasn't he?
The children won't go on vacation, will they?
Joe has gone home, hasn't he?
Your parents have been to Europe, haven't they?
She can drive, can't she?

If the main verb is "to be", the question tag repeats it.


For example:

This is your dog, isn't it?
That wasn't your mom, was it?
These movies are wonderful, aren't they?


Pay attention!

If there is no helping word in the main sentence, we use do, does or did in the tag question.

For example:

They go to school by bus, don't they?
They escaped immediately, didn't they?
He comes here every day, doesn't he?
They went to America, didn't they?



After suggestions with "let's" and after offers, we use a tag with 'shall' (mainly in British English).


For example:

Let's dance, shall we?
I'll turn on the T.V, shall I?
After the imperative, we use a tag with 'will'.
For example,
Get the newspaper, will you?

Share With Your Friends!