Grammar
Question tags: check and invite agreement
Your train leaves from platform six, doesn't it? The short question at the end checks a detail while keeping the statement easy to follow.
Make clear question tags by matching the statement's verb and subject, then choosing a positive or negative tag that fits the meaning.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The library is open late tonight, isn't it? /ðə ˈlaɪ.brər.i ɪz ˈəʊ.pən leɪt təˈnaɪt, ˈɪz.ənt ɪt/
The short answer
Match the tag to the statement's verb and subject, then usually switch positive and negative form. Say ‘The room is ready, isn't it?’ but ‘The room isn't ready, is it?’
Leah has emailed the manager, hasn't she?
Why it works: Has is the helping verb in the statement. The positive statement takes hasn't, and Leah becomes she in the tag.
6 more examples
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The library is open late tonight, isn't it?
The statement uses is with the singular noun library. The tag keeps is, changes library to it, and makes the form negative.
Not this:The libraries are open late tonight,
aren't they? What changes: Libraries is plural, so the tag needs are and they. -
Omar didn't bring his passport, did he?
Didn't makes the past statement negative. The tag uses the positive form did and replaces Omar with he.
Not this:Omar brought his passport,
didn't he? What changes: A positive simple past statement takes didn't in the usual checking tag. -
We can pay by card, can't we?
Can already shows possibility, so it stays in the tag. The subject we stays we.
Not this:We can't pay by card,
can we? What changes: The negative statement takes the positive tag can we. -
Your cousins have arrived, haven't they?
Have is the helping verb in the present perfect. Cousins is plural, so the tag uses they.
Not this:Your cousin has arrived,
hasn't she? What changes: With one named female cousin in this example, use has and she. -
I'm on the correct bus, aren't I?
After a positive I am statement, aren't I is the usual everyday tag.
Not this:I'm not on the correct bus,
am I? What changes: After a negative I am statement, use the positive form am I. -
Let's order the tickets now, shall we?
Let's suggests an action for both speakers. Shall we invites the other person to join the plan.
Not this:Send me the booking link,
will you? What changes: This asks one listener to do something, so will you fits the request.
Read the full guide
Start with the verb that carries the time or possibility in the statement. Keep be, have, will, can, or another helping verb when it is already present. If the statement has only an ordinary present or past verb, use do, does, or did in the tag. Then choose the short subject word and check the positive or negative form.
Find the working verb
At the reception desk, you want to check a booking. Look first for the verb that carries the statement. If you can see is, have, will, or can, use that verb again in the tag.
The lift will stop on this floor, won't it?
Will already shows the future, so won't appears in the tag. You do not need did just because the sentence ends with a question.
Which verb completes this tag: ‘The guests have checked in, ___ they?’
Use haven't: ‘The guests have checked in, haven't they?’ Have is already in the statement.
Add do, does, or did
A colleague says the shop closes at six, and you want to check it. Closes is an ordinary present verb, so you need does in the tag. Use do with I, you, we, and they. Use did for an ordinary past verb.
The ferry leaves at noon, doesn't it?
Leaves is simple present with the singular noun ferry. Does gives the tag its helping verb, and it replaces ferry.
They watched the match yesterday, didn't they?
Watched is a simple past verb. Did carries the past time in the tag.
Complete the tag: ‘You booked the table, ___ you?’
Write didn't: ‘You booked the table, didn't you?’ Booked is an ordinary past verb.
Switch the form
A friend says the keys are not in the bag, and you want to make a regular check. Read whether the statement is positive or negative before choosing the tag. A positive statement usually takes a negative tag, and a negative statement usually takes a positive one.
The keys aren't in the bag, are they?
Aren't makes the first part negative, so are they is positive. The plural noun keys becomes they.
The keys are in the bag, aren't they?
This time the statement is positive, so the tag becomes negative.
Choose the regular ending: ‘The package has not arrived, has it or hasn't it?’
Use has it. Has not makes the statement negative, so the tag is positive.
Match the subject
On a group call, a name or thing in the statement becomes a short replacement word in the tag. Use it for one thing or place and they for several people or things. You need the same number in both parts.
The instructions are clear, aren't they?
Instructions names more than one thing, so they is the matching word. It would point to one thing.
The address is correct, isn't it?
Address is singular, so the tag uses is and it.
Which word replaces ‘the children’ in a tag?
Use they: ‘The children are ready, aren't they?’ The statement has a plural subject.
Use common special tags
At the bus stop, some short patterns do not follow the forms you may expect. After positive I am, speakers usually say aren't I. When you suggest a shared action with Let's, use shall we.
I'm meeting you outside, aren't I?
Aren't I is the everyday tag after positive I am. Keep it as one useful pattern.
Let's check the timetable, shall we?
The speaker includes both people in the plan, so shall we asks the other person to agree.
Finish the suggestion: ‘Let's take a taxi, ___?’
Use shall we: ‘Let's take a taxi, shall we?’ The suggestion is for both speakers.
Hear the speaker's purpose
At an unfamiliar station, you may ask with a rising voice because you need an answer. In a familiar place, you may use a falling voice because you expect agreement. The grammar can stay the same, but your voice changes the feeling.
This is the exit, isn't it?
With a rising voice, the speaker may be unsure. With a falling voice, the speaker may expect the listener to agree.
You know the manager, don't you?
The speaker can ask for confirmation or invite agreement, depending on the situation and voice.
What can a falling voice after a tag show?
It can show that the speaker expects agreement, even though the listener may still answer.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the statement's working verb, choose the matching short subject word, and usually switch positive and negative form. Use do, does, or did when a simple present or past statement has no helping verb. Then think about the situation: the tag may ask for a check or invite agreement.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Question tags: check and invite agreement"
What is a question tag?
A question tag is a short question added after a statement. It can check a fact or invite agreement. In ‘The library is open, isn't it?’, the tag asks the listener to respond to the statement.
The library is open late tonight, isn't it?
How do I choose the verb in a question tag?
Use the helping verb from the statement when it has one, such as is, have, will, or can. If a simple present or past statement has only an ordinary verb, use do, does, or did in the tag.
The libraries are open late tonight, aren't they?
Why do positive statements usually have negative tags?
The regular checking pattern switches positive and negative form. A positive statement takes a negative tag, as in ‘We can pay by card, can't we?’ A negative statement takes a positive tag, as in ‘We can't pay by card, can we?’
Omar didn't bring his passport, did he?
Why do question tags use it, she, or they?
A question tag keeps the subject short by replacing a name or noun with a matching word. Use it for one thing, she or he for a known person, and they for plural people or things.
Omar brought his passport, didn't he?
Why is the tag after I am usually aren't I?
After a positive I am statement, English usually uses the fixed tag aren't I: ‘I'm on the correct bus, aren't I?’ After a negative I am statement, use am I: ‘I'm not on the correct bus, am I?’
We can pay by card, can't we?