Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 52 · B1

Question tags (do you? isn't it? etc.)

A question tag is a short question (isn't it? do you? haven't they?) added to the end of a sentence. A positive sentence usually takes a negative tag and a negative sentence a positive one; the intonation decides whether it is a real question.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 32 minutes

In this lesson

What a question tag isA1 screen of questions
Positive sentence, negative tag; negative sentence, positive tagB1 screen of questions
What your voice doesC4 screens of questions
Let's ..., Don't ..., I'm ...D1 screen of questions
Put it together+4 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

What a question tag is

Isn't it?, have you? and didn't they? are question tags: small questions added to the end of a sentence.

A tag uses an auxiliary verb (have / was / will / can etc.). For the present simple and past simple, use do / does / did (see Unit 51).

  • "You haven't seen my keys, have you?" "No, I haven't."
  • "That was a good match, wasn't it?" "Yes, brilliant."
  • "Your dad plays golf, doesn't he?" "He does, though not with any great success."
  • "You didn't post the letter, did you?" "No, sorry. I forgot."

Point A · Extra practice

Add a question tag to each sentence.

  1. That was a great film, ?

  2. Your sister lives in Bristol, ?

  3. You haven't seen my glasses, ?

Point B of 4

Positive sentence, negative tag; negative sentence, positive tag

Normally a positive sentence takes a negative tag, and a negative sentence takes a positive tag:

Positive sentence + negative tag Negative sentence + positive tag
Becky will ring soon, won't she? Becky won't forget, will she?
There was a queue, wasn't there? They don't eat meat, do they?
Rory should win, shouldn't he? You haven't paid yet, have you?

Take care with yes and no after a negative sentence. They answer the facts, not the grammar:

"You're not driving tonight, are you?"

  • "Yes." (= Yes, I am driving)
  • "No." (= No, I am not driving)
  • Becky will ring soon, won't she?
  • They don't eat meat, do they?
  • You haven't paid yet, have you?
  • "You're not driving tonight, are you?" "No, I'm getting the bus."

Point B · Extra practice

Add a question tag. A positive sentence takes a negative tag; a negative sentence takes a positive tag.

  1. Becky will ring us later, ?

  2. They don't eat meat, ?

  3. There was a long queue, ?

Point C of 4

What your voice does

How you say a tag changes what it means.

When the voice falls on the tag, it is hardly a question. You expect agreement.

When the voice rises, you really want to know. "You haven't seen Jamal today, have you?" means "Have you seen Jamal today?"

A negative sentence + positive tag, said with a rising voice, is also a polite way to request something, ask for information, or ask a favour. It assumes the answer will be no, which makes saying no surprisingly awkward.

  • "It's freezing today, isn't it?" "Yes, bitter."
  • "Alfie doesn't look well, does he?" "No, he looks exhausted."
  • "Your nan's a great cook. She makes amazing pies, doesn't she?" "Yes, she does."
  • "You haven't seen Jamal today, have you?" "No, I haven't."
  • "You couldn't lend me a tenner, could you?" "It depends what it's for."
  • "You don't know where the scissors are, do you?" "Sorry, no idea."

Point C · Exercise 52.2 · part 1 of 2

In these situations you expect your friend to agree with you. Use a question tag in your sentence, starting with the words given.

  1. Example

    You open the curtains. There is frost on the grass and the sun is shining. You say to your friend:

    (lovely morning) It ...

    It's a lovely morning, isn't it?

    AnswerIt's a lovely morning, isn't it?

  2. You are reading the menu outside a seaside café. The prices are far higher than you expected. You say:

    (pricey) It ...

  3. You and a friend have just come out of a concert. You both loved it. You say:

    (brilliant) The concert ...

  4. You visit a friend. The kitchen was grey when you last saw it and now it is bright yellow. You say:

    (have / your kitchen / paint) You ...

  5. You are listening to a young man playing the piano in a station. You think he is very good. You say:

    (a lot of talent) He ...

Point C · Exercise 52.2 · part 2 of 2

In these situations you expect your friend to agree with you. Use a question tag in your sentence, starting with the words given.

  1. You are trying on a pair of trousers in a shop. You look in the mirror and you are not impressed. You say to your friend:

    (not / fit / properly) They ...

  2. You and a friend are walking along a cliff path. The edge is crumbling in several places. You say:

    (not / look / safe) This path ...

Point C · Exercise 52.3 · part 1 of 2

In these situations you are asking for information, or asking people to do things. Write a negative sentence with a positive question tag.

  1. Example

    Your phone is nearly dead. Perhaps Kezia has a charger. Ask her.

    Kezia, you ...

    Kezia, you don't have a charger I could borrow, do you?

    AnswerKezia, you don't have a charger I could borrow, do you?

  2. You have to carry a sofa upstairs. You want Ben to help you with it. Ask him.

    Ben, you ...

  3. You are looking for Tariq. Perhaps Joanne knows where he is. Ask her.

    Joanne, you ...

  4. You want to borrow a ladder. Perhaps Phil has one. Ask him.

    Phil, ...

  5. Mel has a car and you need a lift to the hospital. Perhaps she will take you. Ask her.

    Mel, ...

Point C · Exercise 52.3 · part 2 of 2

In these situations you are asking for information, or asking people to do things. Write a negative sentence with a positive question tag.

  1. You are looking for your glasses. Perhaps Graham has seen them. Ask him.

    Graham, ...

Point D of 4

Let's ..., Don't ..., I'm ...

After Let's ... (= Let us), the tag is shall we? The voice goes up.

After Don't ..., the tag is will you? The voice goes down.

After I'm ..., the negative tag is aren't I? (= am I not?)

  • Let's get a taxi, shall we?
  • Don't touch the paint, will you?
  • "I'm next, aren't I?" "Yes, you are."

Point D · Extra practice

Add a question tag after Let's, Don't and I'm.

  1. Let's get a taxi, ?

  2. Don't forget the tickets, ?

  3. I'm next, ?

Put it together · Exercise 52.1 · part 1 of 4

Complete these sentences with a question tag.

  1. Example

    "Harry won't forget, will he?" "No, he never forgets anything."

    Answer"Harry won't forget, will he?" "No, he never forgets anything."

  2. Example

    "You're hungry, aren't you?" "Yes, starving."

    Answer"You're hungry, aren't you?" "Yes, starving."

  3. "You cook a lot, ?" "Yes, I love it."

  4. "You weren't paying attention, ?" "Yes, I was!"

  5. "Martin doesn't know Gemma, ?" "No, they've never been introduced."

  6. "Laura's at work, ?" "Yes, she's on a late shift."

Put it together · Exercise 52.1 · part 2 of 4

Complete these sentences with a question tag.

  1. "It didn't cost much, ?" "No, only a fiver."

  2. "You can play the guitar, ?" "Yes, but rather badly."

  3. "The neighbours won't mind if we park here, ?" "No, of course not."

  4. "There's a lot of traffic today, ?" "Yes, it's worse than usual."

Put it together · Exercise 52.1 · part 3 of 4

Complete these sentences with a question tag.

  1. "Let's get a takeaway, ?" "Yes, good idea."

  2. "This film isn't very good, ?" "No, it's dreadful."

  3. "I'm a bit late, ?" "Yes, about twenty minutes."

  4. "You wouldn't tell my mum, ?" "No, I promise."

Put it together · Exercise 52.1 · part 4 of 4

Complete these sentences with a question tag.

  1. "Dylan has worked here for ages, ?" "Yes, since 2009."

  2. "I shouldn't have said that, ?" "No, but never mind."

  3. "She'd never been to Ireland before, ?" "No, it was her first trip."

  4. "Don't lose the receipt, ?" "No, I'll keep it safe."

Lesson 52 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Verb + -ing (enjoy doing / stop doing etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What a question tag is–Not checkedB. Positive sentence, negative tag; negative sentence, positive tag–Not checkedC. What your voice does–Not checkedD. Let's ..., Don't ..., I'm ...–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked