Question Tags in English Grammar

1 Affirmative statement + Negative tag
2 Negative statement + Affirmative tag
3 Example: "You like coffee, don't you?"
4 Example: "You don't like tea, do you?"

1 The tag matches the tense of the statement
2 Use the same auxiliary verb as in the statement
3 Use the correct subject pronoun in the tag

1 Affirmative statement + Negative tag
2 Use the auxiliary verb from the statement
3 Change to negative form in the tag
4 Use correct subject pronoun

1 You are happy, aren't you? → Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
2 She works here, doesn't she? → Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
3 They live in Paris, don't they? → Yes, they do. / No, they don't.
4 He can swim, can't he? → Yes, he can. / No, he can't.

1 Negative statement + Affirmative tag
2 Use the auxiliary verb from the statement
3 Change to positive form in the tag
4 Use correct subject pronoun

1 You aren't happy, are you? → Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
2 She doesn't work here, does she? → Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
3 They don't live in Paris, do they? → Yes, they do. / No, they don't.
4 He can't swim, can he? → Yes, he can. / No, he can't.

1 I am → aren't I? (formal: am I not?)
2 You are → aren't you?
3 He/She/It is → isn't he/she/it?
4 We/They are → aren't we/they?

1 I am late, aren't I? → Yes, you are. / No, you aren't.
2 He is tall, isn't he? → Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
3 They are students, aren't they? → Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
4 You aren't busy, are you? → Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.

1 With "have" as main verb: "do" or "have" can be used
2 American English prefers "do": "You have a car, don't you?"
3 British English allows "have": "You have a car, haven't you?"
4 With "have got": use "have": "You have got a car, haven't you?"

1 You have a car, don't you? → Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
2 You have got a car, haven't you? → Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
3 You don't have a car, do you? → Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
4 You haven't got a car, have you? → Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.

1 Can → can't / can
2 Could → couldn't / could
3 Will → won't / will
4 Would → wouldn't / would
5 Should → shouldn't / should
6 May → may not / might not
7 Must → mustn't / needn't

1 You can swim, can't you? → Yes, I can. / No, I can't.
2 He should study, shouldn't he? → Yes, he should. / No, he shouldn't.
3 They will come, won't they? → Yes, they will. / No, they won't.
4 You couldn't help me, could you? → Yes, I could. / No, I couldn't.

1 If the statement is true, say "Yes" + positive response
2 If the statement is false, say "No" + negative response
3 Always respond to the fact, not the tag
4 Example: "You're tired, aren't you?" → "Yes, I am." (if true)

1 "You like pizza, don't you?" → "Yes, I do." (positive fact)
2 "You like pizza, don't you?" → "No, I don't." (negative fact)
3 "You don't like fish, do you?" → "Yes, I do." (positive fact)
4 "You don't like fish, do you?" → "No, I don't." (negative fact)

1 I am → aren't I? (not am I not?)
2 One → one (not he/she)
3 Nobody/Everybody → they
4 This/That → it
5 These/Those → they

For commands: "Close the door, will you?" (request) or "Don't smoke, will you?" (prohibition)

1 You like coffee, ___? (don't you)
2 She doesn't work here, ___? (does she)
3 They are students, ___? (aren't they)
4 He can swim, ___? (can't he)
5 We shouldn't go, ___? (should we)
6 I am late, ___? (aren't I)

1. don't you, 2. does she, 3. aren't they, 4. can't he, 5. should we, 6. aren't I

1 "You're coming to the party, aren't you?" (If you ARE coming)
A) No, I'm not. B) Yes, I am. C) No, I am. → Answer: B) Yes, I am.
2 "You don't like fish, do you?" (If you DO like fish)
A) No, I don't. B) Yes, I don't. C) Yes, I do. → Answer: C) Yes, I do.
3 "She's beautiful, isn't she?" (If she IS beautiful)
A) No, she isn't. B) Yes, she is. C) No, she is. → Answer: B) Yes, she is.
4 "They didn't finish the work, did they?" (If they DID finish)
A) No, they didn't. B) Yes, they did. C) No, they did. → Answer: B) Yes, they did.

Remember: Always respond to the fact, not the tag!

1 He has finished his homework. → He has finished his homework, hasn't he?
2 They won't come to the meeting. → They won't come to the meeting, will they?
3 Let's go to the cinema. → Let's go to the cinema, shall we?
4 She should apologize. → She should apologize, shouldn't she?
5 Everything is OK. → Everything is OK, isn't it?

1 ❌ "You are happy, aren't you?" → ❌ "Yes, you are." → ✅ "Yes, I am."
2 ❌ "You don't like coffee, do you?" → ❌ "No, I do." → ✅ "Yes, I do."
3 ❌ "He is tall, isn't he?" → ❌ "Yes, you are." → ✅ "Yes, he is."
4 ❌ "They work here, don't they?" → ❌ "No, we don't." → ✅ "No, they don't."

1 ❌ "You are happy, are you?" → ✅ "You are happy, aren't you?"
2 ❌ "You don't like it, don't you?" → ✅ "You don't like it, do you?"
3 ❌ "She works here, doesn't she?" (in negative statement) → ✅ "She doesn't work here, does she?"

A: You're from London, aren't you?
B: Yes, I am. You're not from around here, are you?
A: No, I'm not. I'm from Paris. You like this city, don't you?
B: Yes, I do. It's beautiful, isn't it?
A: Yes, it is. You speak French, don't you?
B: Yes, I do. But not very well. You can help me, can't you?
A: Of course I can!

• 1 Pay attention to tag matching (affirmative/negative)
• 2 Give correct responses based on facts
• 3 Practice with a partner if possible
• 4 Focus on natural rhythm and intonation

What is the correct question tag for "She doesn't like coffee"?
A) does she?
B) doesn't she?
C) is she?
Answer: A) does she? (negative statement needs positive tag)

If someone says "You're coming to the party, aren't you?" and you ARE coming, what do you say?
A) No, I'm not.
B) Yes, I am.
C) No, I am.
Answer: B) Yes, I am. (respond to the fact)

What is the correct tag for "Let's go home"?
A) shall we?
B) will you?
C) won't we?
Answer: A) shall we? (special case for "Let's")

• Affirmative statement + Negative tag
• Negative statement + Affirmative tag
• Match the auxiliary verb from the statement
• Use correct subject pronoun

• Respond to the fact, not the tag
• If statement is true, say "Yes"
• If statement is false, say "No"
• Match the auxiliary verb in response