Question Tags

Question tags can be written as a form of sentence in which an interrogative fragment is added to an imperative or declarative statement. 

Question Tags: Definition

Question tags are short clauses used at the end of a statement that transform it into a question. The primary purpose of question tags is to change regular accounts, statements, or views into questions. Question tags can be used in spoken languages or in writing.

Way to create question tags:

1. Question tag always contains two words.
2. The two words are auxiliary or modal verbs of the sentence, including the subject.
3. If the main sentence is affirmative, the question tag will be negative. Whereas if the sentences are negative, the tag question will be affirmative. 

Rules of Question Tags

Here are some question tag examples with their rules. 

• Rule 1: 

Some words carry negative connotations. Example: seldom, rarely, barely, etc. Positive question tags are used after them.

Example: She is seldom here, is she?

• Rule 2: 

When the sentence begins with ‘there’, then the question tag ‘there’ will be used in the place of a pronoun.

Example: There are no good people in this world, are there?

• Rule 3: 

The contracted form of some words are turned into a question tag. Like ‘am not’, is turned into aren’t.

Example: I am done, aren’t I?

• Rule 4: 

The question tag is structured, keeping in mind the central part of a sentence.

Example: I think she is lying, isn’t she? 

In the above-given example, ‘I think’ is not important; therefore, it is not the central part of the sentence.

• Rule 5:

When the sentence begins with words like ‘let us’, then ‘shall we’ should be used in the question tag.

Example: Let’s go for dinner, shall we?

• Rule 6: 

The singular verb/pronoun/adjective is used for words like each, everyone, everybody, none, etc. However, the plural question tag is used for the singular.

Example:

Incorrect sentence: Everyone has a mother, hasn’t they?

Correct sentence: Everyone has a mother, haven’t they?

• Rule 7: 

The singular pronoun is used as a question tag for collective nouns.

Example: The company has already decided, hasn’t it?

• Rule 8: 

For imperative sentences, the question tag ‘won’t you?’ should be used.

Example: Come here, won’t you?

• Rule 9: 

Plural verbs or pronouns are used whenever talking about individual members among a collective noun.

Example: The team has already taken their positions, haven’t they?

• Rule 10: 

If somebody is offered anything in imperative sentences, then ‘would you’ or ‘will you?’ is used in the question tag.

Example: Help me, would you?

Examples of Question Tags

1. You have a bike, don’t you?
2. She can’t drive, can she?
3. It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?
4. He was crying, wasn’t he?
5. She does look like her sister, doesn’t she?
6. The soup is horrible, isn’t it?
7. You are moving to London, are you?
8. She used to have long hair, didn’t she?
9. She hasn’t arrived yet, has she?
10. You don’t like Sukanya, do you?

Question Tags and Tenses

Question tags with present tense:

• Simple present: You have an extra pen, don’t you?
• Verb, to be: She is amazing, isn’t she?
• Present progressive: You aren’t eating, are you?
• Present perfect tense: She hasn’t loved you, has she?

Question tags with past tense:

• Simple past: You had an extra pen, didn’t you?
• Verb, to be: She was amazing, wasn’t she?
• Past progressive: You weren’t eating, were you?
• Past perfect tense: She hadn’t loved you, had she? 

Question tags with future tense:

• Future with will: He won’t lie, will he?
• Future continuous tense: He won’t be lying tonight, will he?

• Conclusion

  Question tags are short clauses used at the end of a statement that transform it into a question. There are several ways to create a question tag. One must remember the rules and uses of these question tags to use them without making any mistake in their daily spoken or written communication.