Question tags — aren’t you? don’t you?
What they do
- Add a short question to a statement to confirm information or invite agreement.
- Rising tone ⤴ = real question / not sure: You’re coming, aren’t you?
- Falling tone ⤵ = expecting agreement: Nice day, isn’t it?
Core pattern
- Same auxiliary as in the statement + subject pronoun.
- Positive statement → negative tag: She is late, isn’t she?
- Negative statement → positive tag: They don’t smoke, do they?
- If there’s no auxiliary, use do/does/did.
Comma before the tag; use pronouns (I/you/he/she/it/we/they).
Which auxiliary goes in the tag?
| Main verb | Example statement | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| be (present/past) | Her train is late. | isn’t it? • He wasn’t home, was he? |
| Present/Past Simple | You live here. / She left early. | don’t you? / didn’t she? |
| Perfect | They have finished. | haven’t they? |
| Continuous | He is working. | isn’t he? |
| Future | We will see. | won’t we? |
| Modals | She can drive. | can’t she? (also shouldn’t/should, mustn’t/must etc.) |
Special cases
- I am → tag aren’t I? I’m late, aren’t I?
- Let’s… → shall we? Let’s start, shall we?
- Imperatives → requests: Open the door, will you? (polite offers: Have a seat, won’t you?)
- There is/are → use there: There’s a problem, isn’t there?
- Have got (possession, BrE): You’ve got a car, haven’t you? • Simple have (habit): You have breakfast, don’t you?
Negative meaning = positive tag
- After no one, nobody, nothing, few, little, never, rarely, hardly, seldom etc., use a positive tag.
- Nobody called, did they? • She hardly eats, does she?
Use they after nobody/no one/everyone: Everyone’s ready, aren’t they?
Pronouns & word choice
- Repeat the subject with a pronoun: Sam plays tennis, doesn’t he?
- Keep the same tense and polarity rule.
- Contract negatives in tags (isn’t, don’t, won’t) in natural speech.
Mini reference
- Positive → Negative You know him, don’t you?
- Negative → Positive She hasn’t arrived, has she?
- Unsure (⤴) You’re free tonight, aren’t you?
- Agreeing (⤵) It’s cold today, isn’t it?
Exercises:
Question tags: Aren’t you? don’t you?
Choose the correct form to complete the question tags below.
1
You're from Spain,
?
2
It isn’t too late,
?
3
He was at the meeting,
?
4
They don’t live here,
?
5
She arrived too late,
?
6
Tom couldn’t find the keys,
?
7
Henry and Julia have just left,
?
8
Your little Angie can’t swim yet,
?
9
Everyone loves your cake,
?
10
Let’s sit near the window,
?
Question tags: Aren’t you? don’t you?
Choose the correct form for each question tag below.
1
You live near here, _____?
A.
B.
C.
2
She’s coming with us, _____?
A.
B.
C.
3
They aren’t ready yet, _____?
A.
B.
C.
4
He finished the report, _____?
A.
B.
C.
5
You can drive, _____?
A.
B.
C.
6
I’m late, _____?
A.
B.
C.
7
Let’s start now, _____?
A.
B.
C.
8
There’s a problem with the printer, _____?
A.
B.
C.
9
You haven’t met my sister before, _____?
A.
B.
C.
10
Don’t forget your keys, _____?
A.
B.
C.
Question tags: Aren’t you? don’t you?
Fill in the gaps with the correct question tags.
Dialogue 1
1
A: You haven’t sent the email yet, ?
2
B: No, sorry. I didn’t have time. But you can help me, ?
3
A: If I help you now, you’ll finish before lunch, ?
4
B: Yes, exactly. You want me to check the addresses again, ?
5
A: Sure, because we don’t want any mistakes, ?
Dialogue 2
6
A: You visited Tokyo last year, ?
7
B: Yes. But you haven’t been to Japan, ?
8
A: It’s expensive, but the flights are cheaper in winter, ?
9
B: True. We should go together next spring, ?
10
A: Great idea. You’ll show me around the city, ?