A question tag is a short question added at the end of a statement to confirm something or to seek agreement.
Example
You are ready, aren’t you?
STEP 1 – IDENTIFY THE SENTENCE
First check whether the sentence is positive or negative.
Positive sentence → Negative tag
Negative sentence → Positive tag
Examples
She is happy, isn’t she?
She isn’t happy, is she?
STEP 2 – FIND THE AUXILIARY VERB
Use the same auxiliary verb from the sentence in the tag.
Examples
She is tired, isn’t she?
They have finished, haven’t they?
He will come, won’t he?
STEP 3 – CHANGE THE SUBJECT INTO A PRONOUN
The subject in the statement must change into a pronoun in the tag.
Examples
Ravi is late, isn’t he?
The boys are playing, aren’t they?
Your sister will come, won’t she?
STEP 4 – IF THERE IS NO AUXILIARY VERB
Use do / does / did.
Examples
You like coffee, don’t you?
She plays the piano, doesn’t she?
They went home, didn’t they?
STEP 5 – SPECIAL RULES
I am → aren’t I
Example
I am late, aren’t I?
STEP 6 – SENTENCES WITH “LET’S”
Let’s → shall we?
Example
Let’s start the class, shall we?
STEP 7 – IMPERATIVE SENTENCES
Use will you?
Examples
Close the door, will you?
Open the window, will you?
STEP 8 – SENTENCES WITH NEGATIVE WORDS
Words like never, rarely, hardly, nobody, nothing make the sentence negative in meaning.
So the tag becomes positive.
Examples
She never lies, does she?
Nobody called you, did they?
SUMMARY
Positive sentence → Negative tag
Negative sentence → Positive tag
Use the same auxiliary verb
Change subject into pronoun
If no auxiliary → use do / does / did
I am → aren’t I
Let’s → shall we?
Revise
You are coming to the meeting tomorrow, aren’t you?
She finished the assignment, didn’t she?
You like English classes, don’t you?
He can drive a car, can’t he?
They will join us later, won’t they?
You don’t understand the question, do you?
She isn’t absent today, is she?
Ravi plays football well, doesn’t he?
Let’s start the class now, shall we?
Open the window, will you?
You have completed the work, haven’t you?
She is your neighbour, isn’t she?
They were late to the class, weren’t they?
He has finished his homework, hasn’t he?
You will help me with this task, won’t you?
She sings beautifully, doesn’t she?
They live near the school, don’t they?
You met him yesterday, didn’t you?
The children are playing outside, aren’t they?
Your brother works in a bank, doesn’t he?
She can solve the problem, can’t she?
You remember my name, don’t you?
They have visited the museum, haven’t they?
The teacher explained the lesson clearly, didn’t she?
You like watching movies, don’t you?