🔤 Tag Question – Definition, Rules, and Examples

🔍 What is a Tag Question?

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement. It is used to confirm information, seek agreement, or engage the listener.

👉 It usually consists of an auxiliary verb and a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the sentence.

🧩 Basic Structure of a Tag Question

Statement + , + Question Tag?

📌 The question tag is always opposite in polarity:

• If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
• If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.

✅ Examples:

Statement	Tag Question	Meaning
She is coming,	isn’t she?	Confirming she’s coming
They aren’t home,	are they?	Confirming they are not home
You can swim,	can’t you?	Confirming ability
He has finished the work,	hasn’t he?	Confirming completion
We don’t know him,	do we?	Confirming denial

🧠 Rules of Tag Question

Rule 1: Use the Auxiliary or Modal Verb from the Sentence

• She is here, isn’t she?
• They have gone, haven’t they?

If there’s no auxiliary, use do/does/did.

• He eats meat, doesn’t he?
• They played well, didn’t they?

Rule 2: Change Positive to Negative & Vice Versa

• It’s hot, isn’t it? ✅
• It’s not hot, is it? ✅

Rule 3: Pronoun in the Tag

Use a subject pronoun in the tag:

• My father is a teacher, isn’t he?
• Those boys are playing, aren’t they?

Rule 4: Imperative Sentences

• Open the door, will you?
• Don’t be late, will you?
• Let’s go, shall we?

Rule 5: “I am” becomes “aren’t I?” in Tag

• I’m your friend, aren’t I? ✅ (Exception)

❗️ Special Cases

Statement	Correct Tag
Let’s have fun,	shall we?
Nobody came,	did they?
Everyone is happy,	aren’t they?
I am your teacher,	aren’t I?
Don’t make noise,	will you?

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