A tag is a short statement placed at the end of a statement to make it a question. A tag is formed using a form of be or do or a helping verb (mentioned in the statement itself) + pronoun corresponding to the subject of the statement. A few points to remember are:

• A tag question is used mostly in spoken English.
• A positive statement follows a negative tag, and a negative statement follows a positive tag
• Statements beginning with ‘Let us’ have the tag ‘Shall we’
• Statements beginning with ‘I am’ are followed by the tag ‘Aren’t I’
• Statements beginning with ‘There’ are followed by the tag ‘verb there’
• Orders are followed by ‘will/won’t you’

e.g. She is writing a book, isn’t she?

Kathy is not present today, is she?

You thanked your friends, didn’t you? (no helping verb; main verb in past tense; so past form of do)

Your parents live in Australia, don’t they? (main verb in present tense; so present form of do)

Let us watch a movie, shall we?

There were no tigers in the zoo, were there?

Shut that door, will you?

Now, add suitable question tags to the following statements:

1. The principal has cancelled the school trip, _______________
2. We will not have the lunch break today, _______________
3. Let us solve this mystery together, _____________
4. We can reach the top of that mountain peak, _____________
5. You should follow the rules, _______________
6. Tell me the truth, ______________
7. Polar bears are found in the polar regions, _____________
8. I am going to be well soon, _____________
9. They cannot leave the hostel at night, _______________
10. He refused to accompany us to the party, ____________
11. She loves the chocolates, ___________
12. They won the triangular series, ____________

 

Click here to download worksheet: Question Tag1

 

Answers:

1. hasn’t he?
2. will we?
3. shall we?
4. can’t we?
5. shouldn’t you?
6. will you?
7. aren’t they?
8. aren’t I?
9. can they?
10. didn’t he?
11. doesn’t she?
12. didn’t they?