اللغة الإنجليزية — Question Tags: Formation and Usage — 2ثانوي — شعبة آداب — Algerian Curriculum

Question Tags in English

Question tags are short questions added at the end of a sentence. They are used to confirm information or to ask for agreement. In Algerian English exams (BAC), question tags are a common topic.

Formation Rules

Rule 1: If the main sentence is affirmative, the tag is negative. If the main sentence is negative, the tag is affirmative.

Rule 2: The tag uses the same auxiliary verb as the main sentence. If there is no auxiliary, use do/does/did.

Rule 3: The tag uses a pronoun, not a noun.

Examples by Tense

• Present Simple (be): You are a student, arent you? / He isnt tired, is he?
• Present Simple (other verbs): She likes coffee, doesnt she? / They dont play tennis, do they?
• Past Simple (be): It was a good film, wasnt it? / They werent late, were they?
• Past Simple (other): He went to school, didnt he? / She didnt call, did she?
• Present Continuous: You are studying, arent you? / He isnt sleeping, is he?
• Present Perfect: She has arrived, hasnt she? / They havent finished, have they?
• Modal verbs: You can swim, cant you? / He should stop, shouldnt he?

Special Cases

• I am: The tag is “arent I”: I am right, arent I?
• Imperatives: Use “will you”: Open the door, will you? / Dont forget, will you?
• Lets: Use “shall we”: Lets go to the beach, shall we?
• Negative words (nothing, nobody, never): These make the sentence negative: Nobody called, did they? / Nothing is perfect, is it?

Intonation

If you expect agreement, use a falling tone (the tag sounds like a statement). If you are unsure, use a rising tone (the tag sounds like a real question).

Examples

Example 1: You have finished your homework, havent you? (expecting “yes”)

Example 2: She doesnt speak French, does she? (expecting “no”)

Example 3: Lets watch a movie tonight, shall we? (suggestion)

Example 4: Dont be late, will you? (imperative request)

Example 5: He never drinks coffee, does he? (negative word “never”)

Exercises

1. Add question tags: a) You are from Algeria, _____? b) She doesnt like spicy food, _____? c) They have visited Paris, _____? d) Lets go for a walk, _____? e) I am invited, _____?
2. Correct the mistakes: a) You are tired, arent you? (correct) b) He went home, doesnt he? (incorrect – correct it)
3. Write 5 question tag questions about your daily routine.

Summary

Question tags are formed by using the auxiliary verb + pronoun. Remember: affirmative sentence → negative tag, negative sentence → affirmative tag. Practice with different tenses to master them.