What are Question tags?
Question tags are used to double-check whether the information is true or not. Question tags are dependent on the main clause of the sentence, and these are used in informal conversations.
It is a combination of 2 types of sentences in one statement. A short form of an interrogative sentence tag with a declarative or imperative sentence, and always positioned after the complete sentence and a comma.
What is the common rule of question tags
Helping verb/ Modal verb + pronoun/subject +?
Rules while framing Question tags in a sentence
- If the first sentence (declarative or imperative) or main clause before the comma (,) is positive, then the second sentence (question tag) after the comma (,) will be negative.
- If the first sentence (declarative or imperative) or main clause before the comma (,) is negative, then the second sentence (question tag) after the comma (,) will be positive.
- The reply to the question can be either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for question tags.
- While forming question tags, we have to focus on the helping verb or modal verb of the first sentence before the comma, and then we have to use that helping verb.
For Example
- He is sleeping, isn’t he?
- Riya does not like apple juice, does she?
- She wrote an article in a magazine, didn’t she?
- You win the competition, don’t you?
- We launched this mobile series this year, don’t we?
- They did not like to go to big parties, did they?
Important Rules of Question Tags:
Rule 1: No auxiliary verb given → use “do/does/did” in question tag
For Example
- He went swimming, didn’t he?
- She eats my favorite lunch, does she?
- They agree to host this event, do they?
- He finished his household chores, didn’t he?
- She donates books to home schoolers, doesn’t she?
Rule 2: Sentence begins with “Let us/ Let’s” → use “shall we” in the question tag.
For Example
- Let’s rock the party, shall we?
- Let us go to some place, shall we?
- Let’s complete this decoration, shall we?
- Let’s start today’s discussion, shall we?
- Let’s record the whole event, shall we?
Rule 3: Sentence begins with “Let me/ Let him/ Let her/Let them/Let Kiran (a person’s name)” → use “will you” in the question tag
Few Example
- Let me do this project, will you?
- Let him plan the itinerary, will you?
- Let her choose, will you?
- Let Aastha play the game, will you?
- Let them draw the graffiti, will you?
Rule 4: Sentence begins with “someone/ anybody/ everybody/ nobody/ somebody/ everyone/ anyone/ no one” → use “they” as a pronoun or subject in the question tag
For Example
- Nobody has seen the pine tree, have they?
- Anybody can sing, can’t they?
- Someone eat my sandwich, didn’t they?
- Everyone celebrates at the party, don’t they?
- Somebody raises their voice, don’t they?
Rule 5: When a sentence begins with “something/ everything/ nothing/ anything” → use “it” as a subject in the question tag
For Instance
- Everything was distorted there, wasn’t it?
- Something is destined for you, isn’t it?
- Anything could happen there, couldn’t it?
- Everything accidentally wipes from my screen, doesn’t it?
- Nothing was left in that bag, was it?
Rule 6: If there are negative words in the sentence, such as “neither/ never/ nor/ no/ not/ no one/ nobody/ none/ nothing/ hardly/ rarely/ scarcely/ seldom/ few/ little” → question tag will be positive
Detailed Examples
- Nobody helped him to reach there, did they?
- She left nothing to study for the exam, did she?
- None of them decorates this wall, do they?
- This gemstone is hardly discovered, is it?
- No one can put a foot in this freezing water, can they?
Rule 7: When there is a negative imperative sentence → use “will you” in the question tag
For Example
- Don’t go there tomorrow, will you?
- Don’t switch off the laptop, will you?
- Don’t gulp the food, will you?
- Don’t ruin the painting, will you?
- Don’t lie to me, will you?
Rule 8: For positive imperative sentences → use either “will you” or “won’t you” in the question tag
For Instance
- Please pass the sugar, will you?
- Kindly sanction my leave, will you?
- Turn off the Refrigerator, won’t you?
- Please arrange those flowers in a vase, will you?
- Pour the oil in a container
Difference between Question and Question Tags
| Question | Question Tags |
|---|---|
| Questions are complete sentences in themselves. | Question tags are placed at the end of the sentence and show an incomplete meaning |
| Questions are independent in nature. | Question tags are dependent on the former sentence. |
| The structure of a question involves interrogative words such as “What/ Where/ How/ Whom/ Whose/ Who/ Which/ Why/ When/ Helping Verb” to ask a question. | The structure of question tags is “Helping Verb / Modal Verb + Pronoun + question mark”. |
| Questions are used to get the information. | Question tags are used to validate the accuracy of information. |
| Example: When will you launch your handbags in the market? | Example: She is getting relief from sinusitis, isn’t she? |
Practice Exercise
- She is working hard, ______________?
- I was studying for one hour, _____________?
- They will win this challenge, ______________?
- She sewed his brother’s bag, _______________?
- Mike bought a pair of spectacles from the eyewear store, ______________?
- Tania recites the whole poem in one breath, ________________?
- He participates in dance competition, ________________?
- We will shape our destiny, ________________?
- Reema did not mould this wax into candle, ________________?
- She can lose weight within 1 month,_______________?
- No one can craft this skill easily, _______________?
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