QUESTION TAGS (B1 Grammar)

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements to confirm or check information. If the statement is positive, the tag is negative. If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.

Quick tip: Question tags: Positive statement → negative tag. Negative statement → positive tag. Use same auxiliary/modal. I'm right, aren't I? (special: am → aren't)

Form: Statement + tag

Positive statement → negative tag. Negative statement → positive tag. Use the same auxiliary/modal as the statement, or do/does/did if no auxiliary.

• You're tired, aren't you? (positive statement → negative tag)
• You aren't tired, are you? (negative statement → positive tag)
• She likes coffee, doesn't she? (positive → negative tag with do)
• He didn't call, did he? (negative → positive tag)

Common question tags

am I? → aren't I? (special case). is/are → isn't/aren't. was/were → wasn't/weren't. have/has → haven't/hasn't. do/does → don't/doesn't. did → didn't. will → won't. can → can't. should → shouldn't.

• I'm right, aren't I? (am → aren't - special)
• You're coming, aren't you? (are → aren't)
• She can swim, can't she? (can → can't)
• We should go, shouldn't we? (should → shouldn't)

Intonation

Rising intonation (↗) = real question (you're not sure). Falling intonation (↘) = confirmation (you expect agreement).

• You're coming, aren't you? ↗ (rising intonation - real question, not sure)
• It's nice, isn't it? ↘ (falling intonation - confirmation, expecting yes)

Common mistakes

• Not "You're tired, are you?" — say "You're tired, aren't you?". Positive statement needs negative tag. You're tired (positive) → aren't you? (negative tag)..
• Not "I'm right, amn't I?" — say "I'm right, aren't I?". Special case: am I? → aren't I? (not 'amn't I' - that doesn't exist)..

Practise it

Positive statement? Negative tag. Negative statement? Positive tag. Use same auxiliary. I'm → aren't I? (special case).