Question Tags: Basic Forms
Form basic question tags by matching the auxiliary and changing positive statements to negative tags and vice versa.
Learning Objective
Question Tags: Basic Forms
Add a basic question tag that agrees with the statement’s auxiliary, tense, and subject.
Clear Explanation
A basic question tag repeats the statement’s auxiliary and uses a pronoun subject. A positive statement usually takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Form and Structure
positive statement + negative tag; negative statement + positive tag
“It is cold, isn’t it?”
Intonation affects meaning: falling intonation often seeks confirmation, while rising intonation can ask a genuine question.
Meaning and Use
Repeat the auxiliary
Use the same auxiliary or modal that appears in the statement.
“They can swim, can’t they?”
Use do when needed
For a simple tense without an auxiliary, use do, does, or did.
“He works here, doesn’t he?”
Pronoun subject
Replace the noun subject with the matching pronoun in the tag.
“Sara is ready, isn’t she?”
Common Errors and Meaning Traps
She is here, doesn't she?
She is here, isn’t she?
Repeat the auxiliary is in the tag.
They didn't leave, didn't they?
They didn't leave, did they?
A negative statement normally takes a positive tag.
Ravi can drive, can't Ravi?
Ravi can drive, can’t he?
Use a pronoun subject in the tag.
Guided Practice
Use the grammar in context
“You don’t drive, do you?”
“Maya called, didn’t she?”
Add suitable tags to one be sentence, one ordinary present-simple sentence, and one modal sentence.
Quick Recap
A basic question tag repeats the statement’s auxiliary and uses a pronoun subject. A positive statement usually takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Use the same auxiliary or modal that appears in the statement.
Intonation affects meaning: falling intonation often seeks confirmation, while rising intonation can ask a genuine question.
Repeat the auxiliary is in the tag.
Independent Mastery Check
Complete these four checks before taking the quiz. If one feels difficult, return to the matching section and try again.
Explain the core rule in your own words without looking back at the lesson.
Find the target form in “It is cold, isn’t it?” and explain what it communicates in this context.
Explain why “She is here, isn’t she?” is the recommended revision for “She is here, doesn't she?”.
Add suitable tags to one be sentence, one ordinary present-simple sentence, and one modal sentence.
Continue at A1-A2 Level
Aim for at least 5 out of 6 in the quiz below. For every missed answer, read the explanation, return to the relevant section, and try the quiz again.
Which statement best explains Question Tags: Basic Forms?
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