Question tags exercise 1 Complete sentences with question tags.
Question tags exercise 2 Complete the conversation with question tags.
Grammar rules PDF:
Question tags rules PDF Grammar rules with examples to download for free.
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Question tags are very common in spoken English. We usually use them when we more or less know the answer, but we want the listener to agree with us or confirm some information. It is also a way of involving the listener in the conversation.
The subject is always expressed by a pronoun.
Kate is younger than Jim, isn't she?
Your parents don't speak Spanish, do they?
In affirmative sentences, the verbs in question tags are negative.
You're from Leeds, aren't you?
Ken is ill, isn't he?
The negative form of I am is aren't I.
I am your best friend, aren't I?
Modal verbs
Karen can swim, can't she?
He'd like to have a rest, wouldn't he?
You should apologize to her, shouldn't you?
The negative form of must is mustn't.
I must help you now, mustn't I?
The question tag of let's is shall we.
Let's go home, shall we?
Auxiliary verbs
Your parents have been here before, haven't they?
You will deliver the parcel tomorrow, won't you?
In sentences with main verbs (play, read, live. ) we make the question tags with do or did.
Shops close at six, don't they?
They arrived in the morning, didn't they?
Everybody, everyone, somebody, someone
If the subject of a sentence is everybody, everyone, somebody, someone we use they to make the question tags.
Everyone was tired, weren't they?
Somebody called you, didn't they?
In negative sentences, the verbs in question tags are positive.
Jill isn't working now, is she?
Bobby shouldn't eat so much, should he?
You hadn't met him before, had you?
Nobody, nothing, hardly ever, scarcely.
Expressions such as nobody, nothing, no one, neither, hardly, hardly ever, scarcely, rarely, seldom have a negative meaning. That is why the verbs in the question tags have positive forms.
Nothing was found, was it?
You hardly ever go dancing, do you?
She seldom works overtime, does she?
If the subject of a sentence is anyone, anybody, no one, nobody we use they to make the question tags.
I don't think anyone will accept it, will they?
No one wanted to go there, did they?
Rising intonation
The question tags with rising intonation are similar to normal questions. We want the listener to confirm some information, because we are not certain about it.
You live in Ghana, don't you?
She is twenty, isn't she?
We can also use the question tags if we want to make polite requests. In such cases, the intonation is rising.
You wouldn't take me with you, would you?
You can't help us with the luggage, can you?
Falling intonation
The question tags with falling intonation are not real questions. We just want the listener to agree with us.
It's so cold today, isn't it?
Tim has been to India, hasn't he?