A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag".
A "tag" is something small that we add to something larger. For example, the little piece of cloth added to a shirt showing size or washing instructions is a tag.
We use tag questions at the end of statements to ask for confirmation. They mean something like: "Am I right?" or "Do you agree?" They are very common in English.
The basic structure is:
statement
question tag
+ Positive statement,
- negative tag?
Snow is white,
isn't it?
- Negative statement,
+ positive tag?
You don't like me,
do you?
Positive Statement Tag Questions
Look at these examples with positive statements. You will see that most of the time, the auxiliary verb from the positive statement is repeated in the tag and changed to negative.
positive statement [+]
negative tag [-]
notes:
subject
auxiliary
main verb
auxiliary
not
personal pronoun (same as subject)
You
are
coming,
are
n't
you?
We
have
finished,
have
n't
we?
You
do
like
coffee,
do
n't
you?
You
like
coffee,
do
n't
you?
You (do) like...*
They
will
help,
wo
n't
they?
won't = will not
I
can
come,
can
't
I?
We
must
go,
must
n't
we?
He
should
try
harder,
should
n't
he?
You
are
English,
are
n't
you?
no auxiliary for main verb bepresent & past
John
was
there,
was
n't
he?
Negative Statement Tag Questions
Look at these examples with negative statements. Notice that the negative verb in the original statement is changed to positive in the tag.
negative statement [-]
positive tag [+]
subject
auxiliary
main verb
auxiliary
personal pronoun (same as subject)
It
is
n't
raining,
is
it?
We
have
never
seen
that,
have
we?
You
do
n't
like
coffee,
do
you?
They
will
not
help,
will
they?
They
wo
n't
report
us,
will
they?
I
can
never
do
it right,
can
I?
We
must
n't
tell
her,
must
we?
He
should
n't
drive
so fast,
should
he?
You
wo
n't
be
late,
will
you?
You
are
n't
English,
are
you?
John
was
not
there,
was
he?
Answering Tag Questions
Answer a tag question according to the truth of the situation. Your answer reflects the real facts, not (necessarily) the question.
For example, everyone knows that snow is white. Look at these questions, and the correct answers:
tag question
correct answer
Snow is white, isn't it?
Yes (it is).
the answer is the same in both cases - because snow IS WHITE!
but notice the change of stress when the answerer does not agree with the questioner
Snow isn't white, is it?
Yes itis!
Snow is black, isn't it?
No itisn't!
the answer is the same in both cases - because snow IS NOT BLACK!
Snow isn't black, is it?
No (it isn't).
In some languages, people answer a question like "Snow isn't black, is it?" with "Yes" (meaning "Yes, I agree with you"). This is the wrong answer in English!
Intonation
We can change the meaning of a tag question with the musical pitch of our voice. With rising intonation, it sounds like a real question. But if our intonation falls, it sounds more like a statement that doesn't require a real answer:
intonation
You don't know where my wallet is,
do you?
/ rising
real question
It's a beautiful view,
isn't it?
\ falling
not a real question
Imperatives
Sometimes we use question tags with imperatives (invitations, orders), but the sentence remains an imperative and does not require a direct answer. We use won't for invitations. We use can, can't, will, would for orders.
imperative + question tag
notes:
invitation
Take a seat, won't you?
polite
order
Help me, can you?
quite friendly
Help me, can't you?
quite friendly (some irritation?)
Close the door, would you?
quite polite
Do it now, will you.
less polite
Don't forget, will you.
with negative imperatives only will is possible
Same-Way Tag Questions
Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is sometimes possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-way tag questions to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions.
Look at these positive-positive tag questions:
So you're having a baby, are you? That's wonderful!
She wants to marry him, does she? Some chance!
So you think that's amusing, do you? Think again.
Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:
So you don't like my looks, don't you? (British English)