Grammar: Question Tags – English – 3rd Year Middle School – Algeria

Question Tags

Question tags are short questions added at the end of a sentence. We use them in conversation to check information or ask for agreement.

Formation of Question Tags

A question tag consists of: auxiliary/modal verb + pronoun.

Rule 1: If the main sentence is positive, the tag is negative.
– You are a student, aren’t you?
– He studies hard, doesn’t he?
– They will come, won’t they?

Rule 2: If the main sentence is negative, the tag is positive.
– You aren’t tired, are you?
– She doesn’t like coffee, does she?
– They won’t be late, will they?

Examples with Different Tenses

Present Simple:
– You like chocolate, don’t you?
– She doesn’t play tennis, does she?

Past Simple:
– He visited Paris, didn’t he?
– They didn’t go, did they?

Present Perfect:
– You have finished, haven’t you?
– She hasn’t arrived, has she?

Special Cases

• I am… → aren’t I? (not amn’t I) Example: I am late, aren’t I?
• Let’s… → shall we? Example: Let’s go, shall we?
• Imperatives: → will you? / won’t you? Example: Open the door, will you?
• Nobody/No one… → positive tag: Nobody came, did they?

Exercises

Add the correct question tag:

1. You are Algerian, ________?
2. She can swim, ________?
3. They didn’t attend the class, ________?
4. Let’s play football, ________?
5. I am right, ________?

Continue learning with Adverbs of Frequency and Wh-Questions.