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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

  1. They live in London, ___

  2. We’re working tomorrow, ___

  3. It was cold yesterday, ___

  4. He went to the party last night, ___

  5. They’ve been to Japan, ___

  6. He had forgotten his wallet, ___

  7. She’ll come at six, ___

  8. They’ll have finished before nine, ___

  9. She’ll have been cooking all day, ___

  10. John must stay, ___

Exercise 2: Complete the following tag questions

  1. Let’s go surfing, ___

  2. The children are sleeping, ___

  3. The pan is hot, ___

  4. Amy doesn’t like Math, ___

  5. You are from West Bengal, ___

  6. I like chocolate pastries, ___

  7. You have completed your assignment, ___

  8. You don’t live here, ___

  9. The children are playing, ___

  10. We often go out on weekends, ___

Answers

Exercise 1

  1. don’t they

  2. aren’t we

  3. wasn’t it

  4. didn’t he

  5. haven’t they

  6. hadn’t he

  7. won’t she

  8. won’t they

  9. won’t she

  10. mustn’t he

Exercise 2

  1. shall we

  2. aren’t they

  3. isn’t it

  4. does she

  5. aren’t you

  6. don’t I

  7. haven’t you

  8. do you

  9. aren’t they

  10. 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.

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About this Article

Published on 17 October, 2023

About this Author

One Skill Retake - IELTS Australia
Quynh Khanh

Tôi là Quỳnh Khanh - Content Writer có hơn 5 năm kinh nghiệm về lĩnh vực giáo dục