Question TagsB1

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Question tags are short questions added to a statement to check or confirm it. A positive statement takes a negative tag and a negative statement a positive tag, with the same auxiliary: It's cold, isn't it?

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CheatsheetB1

Point	Rule	Example
Form	positive statement, negative tag; negative statement, positive tag	It's cold, isn't it? / It isn't cold, is it?
Pronoun	auxiliary + pronoun; the pronoun replaces the subject	Tom is late, isn't he?
be	isn't / aren't / wasn't / weren't	They were late, weren't they?
Other verbs	present: don't / doesn't; past: didn't	She works here, doesn't she? / He left early, didn't he?
have, modals	repeat the auxiliary or modal	You've finished, haven't you? / You can swim, can't you?
I am	aren't I	I'm right, aren't I?
Let's, command	Let's → shall we; command → will you	Let's go, shall we? / Open the door, will you?
Use	check something, make conversation or ask politely	You're from Madrid, aren't you?
Intonation	falling ↘: you are sure; rising ↗: a real question	It's a lovely day, isn't it? ↘ / You haven't seen my keys, have you? ↗
Trap	nobody / nothing / never make the statement negative: positive tag	Nobody called, did they?

Form: auxiliary and pronounB1

Statement	Tag	Example
positive	negative	It's cold, isn't it?
negative	positive	It isn't cold, is it?

The tag is an auxiliary + a pronoun: isn't it, doesn't she.
The pronoun replaces the subject: Tom is late, isn't he?
The negative tag uses the short form: isn't, doesn't, can't.

Form: the auxiliary matches the verbB1

Verb in the statement	Tag	Example
be	isn't / aren't / wasn't / weren't	They were late, weren't they?
present simple (other verbs)	don't / doesn't	She works here, doesn't she?
past simple (other verbs)	didn't	He left early, didn't he?
have / has / had + participle	haven't / hasn't / hadn't	You've finished, haven't you?
will, can, must, should…	the same modal	You can swim, can't you?

When the statement has an auxiliary or a modal, the tag repeats it.
When it has no auxiliary, the tag uses do / does / did.

Form: special casesB1

Statement	Tag	Example
I am	aren't I	I'm right, aren't I?
Let's	shall we	Let's go, shall we?
command	will you	Open the door, will you?
negative command	will you	Don't be late, will you?
There is / are	isn't / aren't there	There's a bus, isn't there?
everybody, somebody, nobody	they	Everybody came, didn't they?
nobody, nothing, never	positive tag	Nobody called, did they?

Nobody, nothing and never make the statement negative, so the tag is positive.
A tag after a command is a polite request. won't you is more friendly: Come in, won't you?

Pronunciation: intonationB1

Tone	Meaning	Example
falling ↘	you are sure and want agreement	It's a lovely day, isn't it? ↘
rising ↗	you are not sure and ask a real question	You haven't seen my keys, have you? ↗

The voice falls or rises on the tag.
A rising tag expects the answer yes or no.

UseB1

Use	Example
Checking something you think is true	You're from Madrid, aren't you?
Making conversation	Lovely weather, isn't it?
Asking politely for help	You couldn't lend me a pen, could you?

Typical errorsB1

✗	✓	Rule
You like tea, aren't you?	You like tea, don't you?	the tag matches the verb: like → don't
She works here, isn't she?	She works here, doesn't she?	present simple, he / she / it → doesn't
He doesn't like it, doesn't he?	He doesn't like it, does he?	negative statement → positive tag
Let's go, will we?	Let's go, shall we?	Let's → shall we
Open the door, don't you?	Open the door, will you?	command → will you
Tom is late, isn't Tom?	Tom is late, isn't he?	the tag uses a pronoun
Nobody called, didn't they?	Nobody called, did they?	nobody is negative → positive tag