Among all the grammar points in IELTS, the rules of tag questions help make your communication more natural and effectively emphasize your message. Although tag questions are not difficult, many learners still confuse their structure and usage in different contexts. In this article, IDP will guide you through the complete concept of tag questions and provide practical exercises for each type.
1. What Is a Tag Question in English?
Definition of a Tag Question
A tag question is a short Yes-No question added at the end of a statement, separated by a comma.
Examples:
You have not seen this film, have you
Your brother lives in Japan, does not he
Usage of Tag Questions
Tag questions are more common in spoken English than in written form. They are often used to confirm the truth of the statement that precedes them. In these cases, the speaker typically raises their voice at the end of the sentence.
On the other hand, if the speaker already knows the information and wants agreement, the tag question serves a rhetorical purpose, reflecting the speaker’s emotion or personal style. In this case, the voice usually falls at the end.
If the main clause is affirmative, the tag question will be negative, and vice versa. Tag questions are always written in contracted form.
2. Tag Question Structure and Application
A tag question has a unique structure, consisting of two parts: the main clause and the tag.
General structure:
S + V + O, auxiliary verb + subject pronoun of S
Notes:
The auxiliary verb in the tag depends on the main verb in the statement.
The subject in the tag question should match the main clause, though you can replace it with an appropriate pronoun to avoid repetition.
Applying Tag Questions to Different English Tenses
Tense Type | Structure |
Present Tenses | |
To be : Affirmative, isn’t/aren’t + S? | |
Negative, am/is/are + S? | It’s nice, isn’t it |
I’m never on time, am I | |
Regular Verbs : Affirmative, don’t/doesn’t + S? | |
Negative, do/does + S? | Jenni eats cheese, doesn’t she |
I don’t need to finish this today, do I | |
Past Tenses | |
To be : Affirmative, wasn’t/weren’t + S? | |
Negative, was/were + S? | Daniel was busy last week, wasn’t he |
Yesterday was fun, wasn’t it | |
Regular Verbs : Affirmative, didn’t + S? | |
Negative, did + S? | He went to the party, didn’t he |
Sam didn’t come yesterday, did she | |
Future Tenses | Affirmative, won’t + S? |
Negative, will + S? | John will call her tomorrow, won’t he |
She’ll come at six, won’t she | |
Perfect Tenses | Affirmative, haven’t/hasn’t/hadn’t + S? |
Negative, have/has/had + S? | Your dad hadn’t met her, had he |
Nobody has called me, have they | |
Modal Verbs | Affirmative, modal + not + S? |
Negative, modal + S? | They couldn’t hear me, could they |
They would like a puppy, wouldn’t they |
3. Special Cases of Tag Questions
3.1. Tag Questions with “I am”
Use “aren’t I” instead of “am not” in negative form.
Example: I’m ready, aren’t I
3.2. Tag Questions with “Must”
Must (necessity): use “needn’t” Example: You must go now, needn’t you
Must (prohibition): use “must” Example: We mustn’t use the phone, must we
Must (assumption): follow the verb after “must” Example: You must be tired, aren’t you
Must + have + V3: use “haven’t” Example: They must have lied, haven’t they
3.3. Tag Questions with “Have to”
Use “do/does/did” as auxiliaries
Example: My child had to go to school, didn’t he
3.4. Tag Questions with “Let’s”
Suggestion: use “shall we” Example: Let’s go by taxi, shall we
Permission: use “will you” Example: Let me use the bike, will you
Proposal: use “may I” Example: Let me help you, may I
3.5. Tag Questions in Imperatives
Invitation: use “won’t you” Example: Eat some cookies, won’t you
Request: use “will you” Example: Give me a hand, will you
Command: use “can/could/would you” Example: Go out, can’t you
Negative command: use “will you” Example: Don’t marry her, will you
3.6. Tag Questions with Indefinite Pronouns for People
Use “they” in the tag
Everyone can enter, can’t they
No one likes this, do they
3.7. Tag Questions with Indefinite Pronouns for Things
Use “it” in the tag
Example: Everything is okay, isn’t it
3.8. Tag Questions with Exclamatory Sentences
Convert the noun to a pronoun subject
Example: Such a handsome man, isn’t he
3.9. Tag Questions with “This”, “That”, “These”, “Those”
“This” / “That” → use “it” Example: That is your laptop, isn’t it
“These” / “Those” → use “they” Example: These are the mooncakes, aren’t they
3.10. Tag Questions with “Had Better”
Use “hadn’t” in the tag
Example: I had better contact them, hadn’t I
3.11. Tag Questions with “Would Rather”
Use “wouldn’t” in the tag
Example: Our daughter would rather stay home, wouldn’t she
4. Tag Question Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Complete the following affirmative tag questions
They live in London, ___
We’re working tomorrow, ___
It was cold yesterday, ___
He went to the party last night, ___
They’ve been to Japan, ___
He had forgotten his wallet, ___
She’ll come at six, ___
They’ll have finished before nine, ___
She’ll have been cooking all day, ___
John must stay, ___
Exercise 2: Complete the following tag questions
Let’s go surfing, ___
The children are sleeping, ___
The pan is hot, ___
Amy doesn’t like Math, ___
You are from West Bengal, ___
I like chocolate pastries, ___
You have completed your assignment, ___
You don’t live here, ___
The children are playing, ___
We often go out on weekends, ___
Answers
Exercise 1
don’t they
aren’t we
wasn’t it
didn’t he
haven’t they
hadn’t he
won’t she
won’t they
won’t she
mustn’t he
Exercise 2
shall we
aren’t they
isn’t it
does she
aren’t you
don’t I
haven’t you
do you
aren’t they
don’t we
Master Tag Questions for IELTS
Above is a comprehensive guide to tag questions, their structures, and practical exercises with answers. We hope this article helps you use tag questions more confidently during your English preparation.
Because tag questions often appear in real-life conversations, you can improve your understanding by watching movies and shows to observe how they are used.
In addition to tag questions, explore more grammar points through IDP’s free IELTS resources. Access sample exercises, practice tests, and grammar tips designed to help you get familiar with the IELTS exam format.
Register for your IELTS test with IDP and start your preparation journey today.