Making a statement into a question: question tags

10.110 This section deals with tags or question tags. A tag is a short structure that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. This is usually done when you expert the person you are addressing to agree with you or confirm your statement. Tags are most often used in spoken English. The whole sentence, consisting of the statement and the tag, is called a tag question.

forming tags 10.111 Tags are formed using an auxiliary or a form of 'be' or 'do', followed by a personal pronoun referring to the subject.

If the main clause is in the affirmative, you use a negative tag. Negative tags are always contracted, except in old-fashioned or very formal English.

It is quite warm, isn't it?

If the main clause is in the negative, you use an affirmative tag.

You didn't know I was an artist, did you?

If the main clause of your statement has an auxiliary in it, you use the same auxiliary in the tag.

You will stay in touch, won't you?

If the main clause has the simple past or present form of 'be' as the main verb, you use this in the tag.

They are, aren't they?

If the main clause does not have an auxiliary or verb 'be', you use 'do', 'does', or 'did' in the tag.

After a couple of years the heat gets too much, doesn't it?

He played for Ireland, didn't he?

Note that the negative tag with 'I' is 'aren't I', when 'am' is the auxiliary or main verb in the main clause.

I'm controlling it, aren't I?

checking statement 10.112 If you have an opinion or belief about something and you want to check that it is true or to find out if someone agrees with you, you can make a statement and add a tag after it to make it into a question.

If you making an affirmative statement and you want to check that it is true, you use a negative tag.

You like Ralph a lot, don't you?

They are beautiful places, aren't they?

If you are making a negative statement and want to check that it is true, you use an affirmative tag.

It doesn't work, does it?

You won't tell anyone else all this, will you?

You can also use an affirmative tag if your statement contains a broad negative, a negative adverb, or a negative pronoun.

That hardly counts, does it?

You've never been to Benidorm, have you?

Nobody had bothered to plant new ones, had they?

10.113 The person you are speaking to replies to the content of your statement rather than to the tag, and confirms an affirmative statement with 'yes' and a negative statement with 'no'.

'It became stronger, didn't it?'—'Yes it did.'

'You didn't know that, did you?'—'No.'

10.114 If you are making a statement about yourself and you want to check if the person you are talking to has the same opinion or feeling, you can put a tag with 'you' after your statement.

I think this is the best thing, don't you?

I love tea, don't you?

Tags can also be used to show your reaction to something that someone has just said or implied, for example to show interest, surprise, or anger. Note that you use an affirmative tag after an affirmative statement.

You fell on your back, did you?

You've been to North America before, have you?

Oh, he wants us to make films as well, does he?

When using 'let's' to suggest doing something, you can add the tag 'shall we' to check that the people you are talking to agree with you.

Let's forget it, shall we?

If you are suggesting that you do something and you want to check that the person you are speaking to agrees, you can add the tag 'shall I?'

I'll tell you roughly, shall I?

If you are telling someone to do something and you want to make your order sound less forceful, you can do so by adding a tag. The tag is usually 'will you', but 'won't you' and 'can't you' are also used.

Come into the kitchen, will you?

Look at that, will you?

See that she gets safely back, won't you?

When you are using a negative imperative, you can only use 'will you' as a tag.

Don't tell Howard, will you?