Question Tags: …, isn't it?

B1 Grammar

1. Simple explanation

A question tag is a tiny question added to the end of a sentence: 'You are tired, aren't you?' The tag is built from the statement's own verb and subject. The rule is a mirror: if the statement is positive, the tag is negative ('She is here, isn't she?'); if the statement is negative, the tag is positive ('She isn't here, is she?'). Use tags to check something you believe or to ask someone to agree with you.

2. Detailed explanation

Start from zero. A question tag is a tiny question — usually two or three words — that English speakers stick onto the end of a normal sentence: 'You're tired, aren't you?' The normal sentence part is called the statement ('You're tired'), and the little piece at the end is the tag ('aren't you?'). People use tags for two jobs: to check something they believe is true ('The train leaves at six, doesn't it?'), and to invite agreement. The tag is a shortcut built from pieces of the statement itself.

The golden rule is the mirror rule: a positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag — the tag always shows the opposite face. 'She is friendly, isn't she?' (positive → negative). 'She isn't friendly, is she?' (negative → positive). In tags, negative verbs almost always use the short joined form, called a contraction: is not → isn't, do not → don't, cannot → can't. A positive tag stays short and plain: 'is she?', 'do they?'

How do you build one? The tag copies the statement's helper verb — the small verb in front of the main action (is, was, do, did, have, can, will). If the statement uses BE, the tag uses BE: 'He was late, wasn't he?' With plain action verbs in the present there is no helper in the statement, so the tag borrows do or does: 'You like pizza, don't you?' 'She works here, doesn't she?' In the past it borrows did: 'They left early, didn't they?' Perfect tenses use have or has: 'You've seen it, haven't you?' Modals — can, will, must, should — repeat themselves: 'She can swim, can't she?' And the tag's subject is always a short pronoun (he, she, it, they), never the name again: 'Maria is ready, isn't she?'

A few special tags you must memorize as fixed pieces. With 'I am,' the negative tag is 'aren't I': 'I'm early, aren't I?' — standard English has no word 'amn't.' After 'Let's…' — a suggestion for you and me together — the tag is 'shall we?': 'Let's go, shall we?' After a command — an imperative, a sentence that orders or politely asks someone to do something, like 'Open the door' — the tag is 'will you?' (or softer 'won't you?'): 'Help me, will you?' Also: everybody and someone take 'they' in the tag ('Everyone is here, aren't they?'), and 'there' stays 'there': 'There's a problem, isn't there?'

3. Formula / structure

Step by step — how to build a sentence:

choosing the tag verb:

negative statement → positive tag:

positive statement → negative tag:

special tags:

4. When to use it

• Checking a fact you believe: 'The meeting is at three, isn't it?'
• Asking for agreement: 'This food is amazing, isn't it?'
• Starting small talk politely: 'You live near here, don't you?'
• Confirming plans: 'We're leaving at seven, aren't we?'
• Softening a request or command: 'Pass me the salt, will you?'
• Reacting and keeping conversation going: 'That was a great movie, wasn't it?'

5. When NOT to use it

• Don't use the same face twice for a normal check: ✗ 'You are coming, are you?' (that pattern exists only to show surprise or challenge — avoid it until C1).
• Don't use 'isn't it' for every sentence: ✗ 'He went home, isn't it?' — the tag must copy the statement's verb and subject.
• Don't leave the tag uncontracted in normal speech: 'is it not?' sounds like a formal robot; say 'isn't it?'
• Don't answer the tag word-by-word in languages where 'yes' means 'you are right that it is not' — in English, answer the FACT: 'You don't smoke, do you?' — 'No, I don't' (if you don't smoke).
• Don't use a tag when you truly know nothing — use a full question: ✗ 'The train leaves at six, doesn't it?' to a stranger when you have no idea; ask 'Does the train leave at six?'

6. Positive examples

• You're from Egypt, aren't you?
• She is a doctor, isn't she?
• They play football on Fridays, don't they?
• He was tired after work, wasn't he?
• You've visited London before, haven't you?
• It will be sunny tomorrow, won't it?
• Maria speaks three languages, doesn't she?
• The shop opens at nine, doesn't it?
• We can park here, can't we?
• You bought the tickets yesterday, didn't you?

7. Negative examples

• She isn't coming, is she?
• You don't know the answer, do you?
• They never write, do they?
• It isn't cold today, is it?
• We haven't met before, have we?
• He won't mind, will he?

8. Questions

• You're from Egypt, aren't you?
• The train leaves at six, doesn't it?
• She hasn't called yet, has she?
• We can sit here, can't we?
• He doesn't eat meat, does he?
• It's a beautiful day, isn't it?

9. Short answers

• Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
• Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.
• Yes, they did. / No, they didn't.
• Yes, we have. / No, we haven't.
• Yes, he will. / No, he won't.

10. Common mistakes

11. American English notes

12. Similar grammar — comparison

13. Natural spoken English

• 'Nice day, isn't it?'
• 'You've got the keys, haven't you?'
• 'That was lucky, wasn't it?'
• 'You don't mind, do you?'
• 'We're lost, aren't we?'
• 'He'll be here soon, won't he?'

14. Real-life examples

• At the airport: 'Our gate is B7, isn't it?'
• Checking a bill: 'This includes tax, doesn't it?'
• Small talk: 'You work with Sam, don't you?'
• Confirming plans: 'We're meeting at seven, aren't we?'
• At a hotel: 'Breakfast is included, isn't it?'
• On the phone: 'You'll call me back, won't you?'

15. Mini dialogue

16. Summary

17. Practice exercises

Warm up with the first questions, then take the full quiz — every answer has a detailed explanation (parts 19–20 of this lesson: answer key + explanations live inside the quiz feedback).

18. The full quiz

50 questions, mixed formats, in difficulty order: easy → medium → intermediate → challenging → advanced.

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