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Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)

Updated 27 Oct 2026 4 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: question tags — a statement followed by a short checking question such as isn't it and do you
Short answer

A question tag is the short question added to the end of a statement to check or confirm it. A positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag, using the same auxiliary: 'You're coming, aren't you?', 'She doesn't drive, does she?'.

On this page11 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02How tags are formed
  3. 03Example sentences
  4. 04Common mistakes
  5. 05A short conversation
  6. 06Usage notes
  7. 07Compared with…
  8. 08Practice
  9. 09Quiz
  10. 10Recap cheat-sheet
  11. 11How to say it

Level: B1. A question tag is the short question you stick on the end of a statement to check it or to invite a reply: You’re coming, aren’t you? It is how English speakers say “right?” without the word right. Two rules do almost all the work: use the opposite polarity, and use the same auxiliary.

The rule

A question tag is a mini-question (two or three words) added after a statement, separated by a comma. It turns a flat statement into a check: It’s cold, isn’t it? The person expects you to agree or confirm.

Two things decide the tag:

  • Polarity flips. A positive statement takes a negative tag; a negative statement takes a positive tag. You are tired, aren’t you? / You aren’t tired, are you?
  • The auxiliary matches. The tag repeats the auxiliary verb (a helping verb such as be, have, can, will, should) from the statement, plus a pronoun. If the statement has no auxiliary — a present or past simple main verb — the tag uses do, does or did: You like coffee, don’t you? She went home, didn’t she?

An auxiliary is a helping verb like is, are, was, have, can, will. The pronoun in the tag (you, she, it, they…) stands for the subject of the statement. Learners whose first language uses one fixed tag (isn’t it?, no?, right?) for everything make the classic error of saying You like coffee, isn’t it? — English changes the tag to fit the verb.

How tags are formed

Statement Auxiliary used Tag
She is here, is → isn’t isn’t she?
They aren’t ready, aren’t → are are they?
You have finished, have → haven’t haven’t you?
He can swim, can → can’t can’t he?
We will win, will → won’t won’t we?
You like it, (no auxiliary) do → don’t don’t you?
She works here, (no auxiliary) does → doesn’t doesn’t she?
They went out, (no auxiliary) did → didn’t didn’t they?
I am late, (special) aren’t I?
Let’s go, (special) shall we?
Open the door, (imperative) will you?

Example sentences

  1. It's a lovely day, isn't it?
    Positive statement (is) to negative tag.
  2. You're coming to the party, aren't you?
    Positive (are) to negative tag.
  3. She isn't at home, is she?
    Negative (isn't) to positive tag.
  4. They haven't arrived, have they?
    Negative perfect (haven't) to positive tag.
  5. You've met Sara before, haven't you?
    Positive perfect (have) to negative tag.
  6. He can drive, can't he?
    Modal can to negative tag.
  7. We shouldn't tell her, should we?
    Negative modal (shouldn't) to positive tag.
  8. You like coffee, don't you?
    No auxiliary (present simple) so the tag uses don't.
  9. She works in a bank, doesn't she?
    Third person present simple uses doesn't.
  10. They went home early, didn't they?
    Past simple uses didn't.
  11. You didn't lock the door, did you?
    Negative past simple to positive did.
  12. I'm next, aren't I?
    The fixed tag for I am is aren't I.
  13. Let's take a break, shall we?
    Let's always takes shall we.
  14. Open the window, will you?
    An imperative takes will you (or won't you).
  15. There's a problem, isn't there?
    With there is, the tag keeps there.
  16. Nobody called, did they?
    Nobody makes the statement negative, so the tag is positive.
  17. This is your bag, isn't it?
    This and that become it in the tag.
  18. You'll help me, won't you?
    will (you'll) to negative tag won't you.
  19. She's never late, is she?
    Never makes it negative, so a positive tag.
  20. We were wrong, weren't we?
    Past of be (were) to negative tag.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ You like coffee, isn’t it? → ✅ You like coffee, don’t you? Match the verb; a present-simple statement with no auxiliary takes do/does, not a fixed isn’t it?.
  • ❌ You’re coming, are you? → ✅ You’re coming, aren’t you? The polarity must flip: a positive statement needs a negative tag.
  • ❌ I’m late, amn’t I? → ✅ I’m late, aren’t I? English has no amn’t; the tag for I am is the fixed aren’t I?.
  • ❌ She works here, doesn’t it? → ✅ She works here, doesn’t she? The pronoun must match the subject (she, not it).
  • ❌ Let’s go, will we? → ✅ Let’s go, shall we? Let’s always takes shall we?.
  • ❌ Nobody came, didn’t they? → ✅ Nobody came, did they? Nobody is already negative, so the tag is positive.

A short conversation

A: You’ve lived in London for years, haven’t you? B: Yes, since 2015. You’re thinking of moving there, aren’t you? A: Maybe. It isn’t cheap, is it? B: No, it isn’t. But let’s look at the options, shall we?

Usage notes

  • Intonation carries the meaning. With a falling tone you already expect the answer yes — you want agreement: Lovely day, isn’t it? ↘. With a rising tone it is a genuine question you are unsure about: You locked the door, didn’t you? ↗.
  • I am → aren’t I. Because amn’t does not exist in standard English, the negative tag after I am is aren’t I? — an exception worth memorising.
  • Imperatives. After an order or request the tag is usually will you?, won’t you? or can you?: Pass the salt, will you? Sit down, won’t you? (A negative imperative takes will you?: Don’t be late, will you?)
  • Hidden negatives. Words like never, nobody, nothing, hardly make the statement negative in meaning, so they take a positive tag: She hardly eats, does she?
  • there and it. Keep there after there is/are (There’s time, isn’t there?), and turn this/that into it (That was fun, wasn’t it?).

Compared with…

  • A question tag checks a statement you already believe is true. An indirect question is a polite way to ask for information you do not have, wrapped inside another clause: Could you tell me where the station is? The word order is different (no inversion in the indirect part). See Indirect Questions (Can you tell me…).
  • Tags rely on the auxiliaries and the negative/question forms you met earlier, so review Present Simple: Negatives and Questions and The Verb To Be (Present) if the auxiliary choice feels shaky.

Recap card for English question tags showing positive statement to negative tag and negative statement to positive tag with the matching auxiliary

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Question tags practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct tag: 'You're from Canada, ___'
Show answer

aren't you? — Positive statement with 'are' takes the negative tag 'aren't you?'.

2 Choose the correct tag: 'She doesn't eat meat, ___'
Show answer

does she? — A negative present-simple statement takes the positive tag 'does she?'.

Hint: Past simple, positive statement

Show answer

didn't — Past simple with no auxiliary uses 'did'; a positive statement needs the negative tag 'didn't'.

Hint: The fixed tag for I am

Show answer

aren't — The tag for 'I am' is the fixed 'aren't I?'.

5 Put the words in order: 'You can swim, ...?'

Show answer

You can swim can't you — The modal 'can' gives the negative tag 'can't you?'.

6 Match each statement to its correct tag.

  • It's hot,
  • You like it,
  • Let's go,
  • Open it,
Show answer
  • It's hot, → isn't it?
  • You like it, → don't you?
  • Let's go, → shall we?
  • Open it, → will you?

Match the auxiliary (or add do/does), flip polarity; Let's takes 'shall we?' and an imperative takes 'will you?'.

Quiz

Check yourself

Question tags quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Choose the tag: 'It's raining, ___'
    Show answer

    isn't it? — Positive 'is' takes the negative tag 'isn't it?'.

  2. 2Choose the tag: 'You don't smoke, ___'
    Show answer

    do you? — A negative statement takes a positive tag: 'do you?'.

  3. 3Choose the tag: 'He works here, ___'
    Show answer

    doesn't he? — Present simple third person uses 'does'; positive statement needs negative 'doesn't he?'.

  4. 4Choose the tag: 'They haven't paid, ___'
    Show answer

    have they? — Negative perfect takes the positive tag 'have they?'.

  5. 5Choose the tag: 'We should leave, ___'
    Show answer

    shouldn't we? — The modal 'should' gives the negative tag 'shouldn't we?'.

  6. 6Choose the tag: 'You went to the bank, ___'
    Show answer

    didn't you? — Past simple uses 'did'; positive statement needs 'didn't you?'.

  7. 7Choose the tag: 'I'm right, ___'
    Show answer

    aren't I? — The fixed tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'.

  8. 8Choose the tag: 'Let's start, ___'
    Show answer

    shall we? — 'Let's' always takes 'shall we?'.

  9. 9Choose the tag: 'Close the door, ___'
    Show answer

    will you? — An imperative takes 'will you?' (or 'won't you?').

  10. 10Which sentence is correct?
    Show answer

    You like tea, don't you? — Present simple with no auxiliary takes 'don't you?', and the polarity flips to negative.

  11. 11Choose the tag: 'Nobody phoned, ___'
    Show answer

    did they? — 'Nobody' makes the statement negative, so the tag is positive: 'did they?'.

  12. Show answer

    isn't — With 'there is', keep 'there' in the tag; a positive statement takes 'isn't there?'.

Recap cheat-sheet

Statement Tag Example
positive negative You’re ready, aren’t you?
negative positive You aren’t ready, are you?
no auxiliary do/does/did She sings, doesn’t she?
I am aren’t I? I’m first, aren’t I?

How to say it

Question tags are said fast, as a single breath after the statement. A few points for learners:

  • aren’t I? sounds like “arnt eye” [ɑːnt aɪ] — the r is silent in British English; the vowel is long.
  • isn’t it? often blurs to “iznit” [ˈɪznɪt] in quick speech; don’t over-pronounce each word.
  • Intonation does the work: your voice drops (↘) when you expect agreement and rises (↗) when you really want an answer — practise the same tag both ways.

Next

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All English grammar topics

Every grammar point in order, from your first sentence to advanced structures. Pick one and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.

Grammar path

125 topics 125 ready now
A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
  2. 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
  3. 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
  4. 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
  5. 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
  6. 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
  7. 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
  8. 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
  9. 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
  10. 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
  11. 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
  12. 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
  13. 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
  14. 14 Can and Can't for Ability
  15. 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
  16. 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
  17. 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
  18. 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
  19. 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
  20. 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
  21. 21 How Much vs How Many
  22. 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
  23. 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
  24. 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
  25. 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
  26. 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
  28. 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
  30. 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
  2. 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
  3. 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
  4. 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
  5. 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
  7. 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
  9. 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
  10. 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
  12. 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
  13. 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
  14. 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
  15. 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
  16. 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
  17. 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
  18. 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
  19. 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
  20. 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
  21. 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
  22. 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
  23. 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
  24. 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
  25. 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
  1. 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
  2. 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
  3. 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
  4. 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
  5. 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
  6. 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
  7. 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
  8. 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
  9. 64 Reported Questions
  10. 65 Reported Commands and Requests
  11. 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
  12. 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
  13. 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
  20. 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
  21. 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?) You are here
  22. 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
  23. 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
  24. 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
  15. 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
  16. 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
  19. 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
  20. 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
  4. 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
  5. 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
  6. 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
  7. 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
  8. 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
  9. 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
  10. 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
  11. 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
  12. 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
  13. 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
  14. 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
  15. 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
  16. 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
  17. 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
  18. 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)