We have discussed Question Tags with Examples and Exercises. After reading complete rules, you can solve exercises for practice. Questions from this topic asked in competitive exams. All students need to understand the concept of questions tags.
Question Tags Definition – a short phrase or sentence such as ‘don’t he?’ or ‘did they?’ at the end of a sentence that changes it into a question and is often used to ask somebody for confirmation.
A question tag is used to make confirmation.
These are some rules to make question tags correctly.
Auxiliary Verbs and their short forms
| do + not | don’t |
| did + not | didn’t |
| Is + not | Isn’t |
| has + not | hasn’t |
| had + not | hadn’t |
| were + not | weren’t |
| does + not | doesn’t |
| am I not… | aren’t I ….? |
| are + not | aren’t |
| have + not | haven’t |
| was + not | wasn’t |
| shall + not | shan’t |
| will + not | won’t |
| should + not | shouldn’t |
| could + not | couldn’t |
| might + not | mightn’t |
| must + not | mustn’t |
| need + not | needn’t |
| can + not | can’t |
| would + not | wouldn’t |
| may + not | mayn’t |
| ought + not | oughtn’t |
| used + not | usedn’t |
| dare + not | daren’t |
Rules for Question Tags with Examples
We have discussed all the possible rules for Question Tags. Read carefully and understand the concepts.
Rule – 1
The question tag of an affirmative sentence is negative. In other words, the structure ‘Auxiliary verb + n’t + subject (= A.P.) + ?’ is used in question tags.
Ex. He plays Cricket, doesn’t he?
Ex. He has completed the task, hasn’t he?
Ex. They have gone there, haven’t they?
Rule – 2
The question tag of a negative sentence is affirmative. The structure – ‘Auxiliary verb + subject (= A.P.) + ?’ is used in question tags.
Ex. Raju had not played well, had he?
Ex. She was not a skilled player, was she?
Ex. The players are not playing well, are they?
Rule – 3
If the negative words such as – neither, no, not, never, no one, nobody, nothing, few, little, hardly, rarely, scarcely, seldom…etc., are used in a sentence, the meaning of the sentence is negative and it is considered to be a negative sentence. Therefore, its question tag is positive.
The structure-‘Auxiliary verb + subject (= A.P.) + ?’ is used in the question tag.
Ex. I know little about you, do I?
Ex. It is rarely found, is it?
Ex. Bhola has nothing to spend, has he?
Ex. My mother seldom makes ice cream, does she?
Question Tags Exercises & Worksheet with Answers
Rule – 4
The question tag of an affirmative imperative sentence is both positive – will you?’ and negative – won’t you ?’.
Ex. Kindly post this letter, will you? (Correct)
Ex. Post this application form, won’t you? (Correct)
Ex. Give me a glass of water, will you?
Ex. Turned right, won’t you?
Rule – 5
Rule 5. The question tag of a negative imperative sentence is affirmative-will you?’.
Ex. Don’t play foolishly, will you?
Ex. Don’t make a noise, will you?
Ex. Don’t deceive her, will you?
Rule – 6
If an affirmative imperative sentence is used to express the sense (= idea) of more urgency (= more necessity), the negative question tag – won’t you?’ is used.
Ex. Remember to shut the door, won’t you?
Ex. Be careful while solving the question, won’t you?
Rule – 7
If the verb used in an imperative sentence denotes (= expresses) the sense (= idea) of reprimand (= scolding/ snubbing/rebuke), the question tag – ‘can’t you?’ is used.
Ex. Use your own sense, can’t you?
Ex. Use your own bike, can’t you?
Ex. Do you business, can’t you?
Rule – 8
If the imperative sentence begins (= starts) with Let us’ or ‘Let’s’, it (= the imperative sentence) denotes (= expresses) proposal’ or ‘suggestion’
and the question tag -“shall we ?” is used for it (= the imperative sentence starting with ‘Let us/Let’s).
Ex. Let’s go to the cinema, shall we?
Ex. Let’s read the Bible, shall we?
Ex. Let us pay all the bills, shall we?
Rule – 9
If the imperative sentence begins (= starts) with ‘Let me’, ‘Let him’, Let her’, ‘Let them’, ‘Let Shyam’, ‘Let Veena’,…etc., the question tag-will you?’ is used for it (= the imperative sentence starting with Let me’, ‘Let him’,…etc.).
Ex. Let them do their homework, will you?
Ex. Let Reena watch Youtube, will you?
Ex. Let father go there, will you?
Ex. Let her be my wife, will you?
Ex. Let him eat, will you?
Rule – 10
If the verb ‘used to’ is used in a sentence, the negative verb (= verbal term) ‘usedn’t’ or ‘didn’t’ is used in a question tag.
Ex. He used to play cards, usedn’t he?
Ex. Maria usedn’t eat fish, used she?
Ex. Maria usedn’t eat fish, did she?
Rule – 11
If the marginal auxiliary verb-dare not or daren’t’ and ‘need not or needn’t’ are used in a sentence, the affirmative question tag structure-dare/need + subject (= A.P.) + ?’ is used for it.
Ex. You dare not face your teacher, dare you?
Ex. They daren’t touch the naked wire, dare they?
Ex. He need not to study further, need he?
Rule – 12
If the verb-‘dare’ and ‘need’ are used as main verbs in a sentence, its question tag is formed (= made) like this (= in this way).
Ex. Nobody will dare to beat me, will they?
Ex. She will need nothing, will she?
Question Tags Exercises & Worksheet with Answers
Question Tag Subject Selection Rules
How to select the Subjects of Question Tags
Generally, we get confused about the selection of subjects during making question tags.
The following rules are followed (= used) to select the subjects of question tag.
Rule – 1
If the personal pronouns- I, we, you, he, she, it, they, …etc., are used as subjects of a sentence, the same personal pronouns are used as the subjects of question tags.
Ex. We did our homework, didn’t we?
Ex. I did not see her yesterday, did I?
Ex. She is doing great work in the field of education, is she?
Rule – 2
If a noun is the subject of a sentence, the personal pronouns – he, she, it and they are used as the subjects of question tags according to the number, person and gender of the used noun.
Ex. The dinner set was not strong enough, was it?
Ex. The girls were playing Tenis, weren’t they?
Rule – 3
If the words-there, one, this/that, these/those are used as the subjects of a sentence, the words-there, one, it and they are used as the subjects of question tags respectively.
Ex. These are your caps, aren’t they?
Ex. Those were his buffaloes, weren’t they?
Ex. These pants are yours, aren’t they?
Ex. Those girls were beautiful, weren’t they?
Rule – 4
If the indefinite pronouns – everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody, everyone, someone, anyone and no one are used as the subjects of a sentence, the personal pronoun-‘they’ is used as the subject of question tags but the personal pronoun ‘he’ is not used as the subject of question tags.
Ex. Nobody has seen wind, have they?
Ex. Somebody knocked at the door, didn’t they?
Rule – 5
If the indefinite pronouns – everything, something, anything and nothing are used as the subjects of a sentence, the personal pronoun-it’ is used as the subject of question tags but the personal pronoun-‘they’ is not used as the subject of question tags.
Ex. Something was there, wasn’t it?
Ex. Anything can be done for her, can’t it?
Ex. Everything will be fine, won’t it?
