Question Tag (...?)

Question Tag (...?)

What is a Question Tag?

A question tag is a short question added at the end of the statement after a comma to confirm the statement.
Abbreviation/short form of the helping verb with pronouns and a question mark is used as per requirement. For a clear understanding let's learn the basic rules and types of forming question tags.

Types of Question Tag:

1) If the statement is positive Question Tag is Negative 
e. g) Statement - Virat doesn't play cricket.
Question Tag - Virat plays cricket, doesn't he?

2) If the statement is Negative Question Tag is Positive 
e. g) Statement - Virat plays cricket.
Question Tag - Virat does not play cricket, does he?

Important Tips:

• Always match the tense and subject in the tag.
• Use the short form: isn’t, doesn’t, didn’t, etc.
• After imperatives (commands), use will you / won’t you / can you
• Open the door, won't you?
• Don’t speak loudly, will you?

Short forms of Helping Verb + not with tag:

• do not - don't ?
• does not - doesn't ? 
• did not - didn't ? 
• am not - aren't ?
• is not - isn't ?
• are not - aren't ?
• was not - wasn't ?
• were not - weren't ? 
• have not - haven't ? 
• has not - hasn't ?
• had not - hadn't ?
• will not - won't ?
• shall not - shan't ?
• would not - wouldn't ?
• should not - shouldn't ? 
• can not - can't ?
• could not - couldn't ? 
• must not - mustn't ?

Friends, let's learn the question tag with examples:

1) Affirmative Sentences:

1) Virat plays cricket.
- Virat plays cricket, doesn't he?

2) Virat is playing cricket.

- Virat is playing cricket, isn't he?

3) Virat has played cricket.

- Virat has played cricket, hasn't he?

4) Virat has been playing cricket. 

- Virat has been playing cricket, hasn't he?

5) Virat played cricket.

- Virat played cricket, didn't he?

6) Virat was playing cricket.

- Virat was playing cricket, wasn't he?

7) Virat had played cricket.

- Virat had played cricket, hadn't he?

8) Virat had been playing cricket. 

- Virat had been playing cricket, hadn't he?

9) Virat will play cricket.
- Virat will play cricket, won't he?

10) Virat will be playing cricket.

- Virat will be playing cricket, won't he?

11) Virat will have played cricket.

- Virat will have played cricket, won't he?

12) Virat will have been playing cricket. 

- Virat will have been playing cricket, won't he?

Friends, let's learn how to form the question tag of; 

2) Negative Sentences:

1) Virat does not play cricket.

- Virat does not play cricket, does he? 

2) Virat is not playing cricket.

- Virat is not playing cricket, is he?

3) Virat has not played cricket.

- Virat has not played cricket, has he?

4) Virat has not been playing cricket. 

- Virat has not been playing cricket, has he?

5) Virat did not play cricket.

- Virat did not play cricket, did he?

6) Virat was not playing cricket.

- Virat was not playing cricket, was he?

7) Virat had not played cricket.

- Virat had not played cricket, had he?

8) Virat had not been playing cricket. 

- Virat had not been playing cricket, had he?

9) Virat will not play cricket.

- Virat will not play cricket, will he?

10) Virat will not be playing cricket.

- Virat will not be playing cricket, will he?

11) will not have played cricket.

- Virat will not have played cricket, will he?

12) Virat will not have been playing cricket. 

- Virat will not have been playing cricket, will he?

Friends, to study/revise the structure of Positive and Negative, Click Here.

3) Imperative Sentences:

i) Simple Request will you / would you;

 1) Close the gate.
- Close the gate, will you?

 2) Switch off the fan.

-  Switch off the fan, would you?

ii) Polite (urgent)request  

1) Please Help me.
 - Please Help me, won’t you?

2) Please give me a glass of water. 

 - Please give me a glass of water, won't you?

iii) Negative Command;

1) Don’t shout.
  - Don’t shout, will you?

 

     Let’s case 
2) Let’s go out.
     Let’s go out, shall we?

iv) Impatient Remarks;

1) Look at me.

   - Look at me, can't you?

2) Speak slowly.

  -  Speak slowly, can't you?

v) Suggestions;

   Let’s go to the park.
- Let’s go to the park, shall we?

   Let's march.

- Let's march, shall we?

5) Sentences with Pronouns like “Nobody, Nothing, None”

1) Nobody came.
 - Nobody came, did they?

2) Nothing happened.
 - Nothing happened, did it?

3) None of them spoke.
 - None of them spoke, did they?

6) Sentences with “Everything, Something, Anything”

1) Everything is fine.
- Everything is fine, isn’t it?

2) Something is wrong.
- Something is wrong, isn’t it?

3) Anything can happen.
- Anything can happen, can’t it?

7) Sentences with Modals (can, must, should, may, etc.)

1) You can swim.
- You can swim, can’t you?

2) He must go.
- He must go, mustn’t he?

3) We should study.
- We should study, shouldn’t we?

FAQs

What is a Question Tag?

Question tags is a short Question added at the end of the statement after a comma to confirm the statement.

When is a Question Tag used?

To confirm the asked information Question Tag is used.

What is the basic rule of Question Tag?

If a statement is in Positive form, a Question Tag will be Negative and If a statement is in Negative form, a Question Tag will be Positive. 

Friends, this is all about the Question Tag. If you have any doubts, just contact us.

Thank you.