3 Basic Rules of Question Tags in English (+Video and Quiz)

A question tag is a “tag” at the end of a statement to make it a “question”.

Learn the basic rules of question tags in English with examples and questions for you to practice.

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Examples of question tag

• isn’t he?

• are they?

• didn’t she?

Structure of question tags

See from the examples above that a question tag is made up of just two words — a verb first, then a pronoun.

• A verb (is, are, did, etc.)
• A pronoun (he, she, they, etc.)

In a full sentence format, you’d have two structures — the statement first before the question tag.

• The statement (He is at home.)
• The question tag (isn’t he?)

Basic rules of question tags in English

A statement or question tag is negative when it contains “not, no, none” or any other word that indicates absence.

• Did not (Didn’t)
• No one…
• None of…

While a statement or question tag is positive in the absence of “not, no, none”.

• Did
• One of...

1. Use negative tag for positive statement

When the statement is positive, use a negative question tag.

• She is here — (POSITIVE STATEMENT)
• Isn’t she? — (NEGATIVE TAG)

2. Use positive tag for negative statement

When the statement is negative, use a positive question tag.

• She is not here — (NEGATIVE STATEMENT)
• Is she? — (POSITIVE TAG)

3. Change the subject to a pronoun

When the subject in the statement is a noun (name), change it to the correct pronoun in the question tag.

• DEBORAH is here
• Isn’t SHE?

Another example.

• MUSA and CHUKS are best friends
• Aren’t THEY?

Practice questions on rules of question tags in English

ALSO SEE:

• QUESTION TAGS WITH AUXILIARY VERB

• QUESTION TAGS WITHOUT AUXILIARY VERBS

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