Using Question Tags in Practice – Grammar Test

Question tags – aren't you? don't you? Tag Questions Quiz

Using Question Tags in Practice in English

Question tags are short phrases that are added to the end of statements to form questions. Using them correctly requires knowledge of grammar rules. This article offers practice in understanding question tags in English by answering the 22 questions below. For each statement, choose the best option (one of 5) to form a question tag and create a grammatically correct question. Watch for matching the tense and verb form, as well as properly using positive and negative question tags.

To begin, we recommend reviewing the grammar to remind yourself of the rules and usage of question tags.

Forming Question Tags

  1. Auxiliary Verbs: The auxiliary verb used in a question tag depends on the tense of the main verb in the sentence. For example:
    • Present tense: She is happy, isn’t she?
    • Past tense: They went to the party, didn’t they?
    • Modal verbs: You can swim, can’t you?
  2. Pronouns: The pronoun used in the question tag should match the subject of the sentence. For example:
    • He is coming, isn’t he?
    • They were late, weren’t they?
    • She can dance, can’t she?
  3. Negative to Positive and Vice Versa: If the statement is positive, the question tag is usually negative, and vice versa. For example:
    • Positive statement: You like chocolate, don’t you?
    • Negative statement: He didn’t finish his homework, did he?

Common Uses of Question Tags

  1. Seeking Confirmation: Question tags are often used to confirm information or to seek agreement from the listener.
    • You enjoyed the movie, didn’t you?
    • She’s from Spain, isn’t she?
  2. Softening Statements: Adding a question tag can soften a statement, making it sound less direct or confrontational.
    • You’re not busy, are you?
    • It’s quite chilly outside, isn’t it?
  3. Engaging the Listener: Question tags can be used to engage the listener in conversation, inviting them to respond.
    • This coffee is delicious, isn’t it?
    • We’re having a great time, aren’t we?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Using Incorrect Auxiliary Verbs: Make sure to use the correct auxiliary verb based on the tense of the main verb in the sentence.
  2. Mismatched Pronouns: Ensure that the pronoun in the question tag matches the subject of the sentence.
  3. Forgetting the Comma: Always separate the statement from the question tag with a comma.

Simple Present Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I am Aren’t I? I am not Am I?
You are Aren’t you? You are not Are you?
He is Isn’t he? He is not Is he?
She is Isn’t she? She is not Is she?
It is Isn’t it? It is not Is it?
They are Aren’t they? They are not Are they?
We are Aren’t we? We are not Are we?

Simple Past Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I was Wasn’t I? I was not Was I?
You were Weren’t you? You were not Were you?
He was Wasn’t he? He was not Was he?
She was Wasn’t she? She was not Was she?
It was Wasn’t it? It was not Was it?
They were Weren’t they? They were not Were they?
We were Weren’t we? We were not Were we?

Simple Future Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I will Won’t I? I will not Will I?
You will Won’t you? You will not Will you?
He will Won’t he? He will not Will he?
She will Won’t she? She will not Will she?
It will Won’t it? It will not Will it?
They will Won’t they? They will not Will they?
We will Won’t we? We will not Will we?

Present Perfect Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I have Haven’t I? I have not Have I?
You have Haven’t you? You have not Have you?
He has Hasn’t he? He has not Has he?
She has Hasn’t she? She has not Has she?
It has Hasn’t it? It has not Has it?
They have Haven’t they? They have not Have they?
We have Haven’t we? We have not Have we?

Past Perfect Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I had Hadn’t I? I had not Had I?
You had Hadn’t you? You had not Had you?
He had Hadn’t he? He had not Had he?
She had Hadn’t she? She had not Had she?
It had Hadn’t it? It had not Had it?
They had Hadn’t they? They had not Had they?
We had Hadn’t we? We had not Had we?

Future Perfect Tense – Question tags

Positive Statement Negative Tag Negative Statement Positive Tag
I will have Won’t I? I will not have Will I?
You will have Won’t you? You will not have Will you?
He will have Won’t he? He will not have Will he?
She will have Won’t she? She will not have Will she?
It will have Won’t it? It will not have Will it?
They will have Won’t they? They will not have Will they?
We will have Won’t we? We will not have Will we?

Exercise using Question Tags (test)

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Question tags – aren't you? don't you? Tag Questions Quiz

Practice. Questions tags

The boy wasn’t able to do it alone, ___?

He never thought what might come out of it, ___?

He had lunch at home today, ___ ?

A sick man can’t go out, can he?

There is neither electricity nor gas on the island, ___?

The manner of addressing people in Britain is quite different from ours, ___?

You lived here 3 months ago, ___?

This winter is not very cold, ___?

They have to ask somebody else to help them, ___?

It isn’t very early now, ___?

She comes from the family of Donovan, ___?

You have read all Pushkin’s books, ___?

Pete doesn’t work hard, ___?

There are so many people in the street, ___?

You don’t play the piano, ___?

He isn’t a student, ___ he?

He had no practice in composing music, ___ ?

Nothing can stop us now, ___?

There won’t be any trouble, ___?

You have finished your work, ___?

There were many mistakes in your dictation, ___ ?

You have a bad headache, ___?

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