Skip to content
Zorg Space Open the app

English grammar

…, isn’t it? Checking what you think

B1 · Intermediate Asking questions Questions 10

The rule

A tag turns a statement into a check. The rule is a mirror: a positive sentence takes a negative tag and a negative sentence takes a positive one — You are new here, aren’t you?, It isn’t far, is it?. The tag repeats the auxiliary; if the sentence has none, do, does or did steps in: You work nights, don’t you?. The pronoun always matches the subject. Two to memorise: I am … takes aren’t I?, and Let’s … takes shall we?.

Pattern

positive sentence + negative tag · negative sentence + positive tag · I am …, aren’t I?

Examples

  1. You are the new neighbour, aren’t you?

  2. It isn’t very far, is it?

  3. You work nights, don’t you?

  4. Let’s take the earlier train, shall we?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: You are coming, are you?

    Right: You are coming, aren’t you?

    A positive sentence takes a negative tag.

  • Wrong: She lives here, doesn’t her?

    Right: She lives here, doesn’t she?

    The tag uses a subject pronoun, not an object one.

  • Wrong: I am late, am not I?

    Right: I am late, aren’t I?

    I am takes the fixed tag aren’t I?.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. You have met her before, didn’t you?
    2. You have met her before, have you?
    3. You have met her before, haven’t you?
    4. You have met her before, haven’t I?
    Show answer

    Answer: C You have met her before, haven’t you?

    Positive sentence, negative tag, same auxiliary.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. They didn’t call back, did they?
    2. They didn’t call back, do they?
    3. They didn’t call back, didn’t they?
    4. They didn’t call back, did them?
    Show answer

    Answer: A They didn’t call back, did they?

    Negative sentence, positive tag.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Your sister works at the hospital, isn’t she?
    2. Your sister works at the hospital, doesn’t she?
    3. Your sister works at the hospital, doesn’t her?
    4. Your sister works at the hospital, don’t she?
    Show answer

    Answer: B Your sister works at the hospital, doesn’t she?

    No auxiliary in the sentence, so does steps in.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Let’s leave at seven, don’t we?
    2. Let’s leave at seven, shan’t we?
    3. Let’s leave at seven, will we?
    4. Let’s leave at seven, shall we?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Let’s leave at seven, shall we?

    Let’s always takes shall we?.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    You can drive, _____?

    1. can you
    2. can’t I
    3. don’t you
    4. can’t you
    Show answer

    Answer: D You can drive, can’t you?

    The tag mirrors the modal and the subject.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    He hasn’t replied, _____?

    1. has him
    2. hasn’t he
    3. did he
    4. has he
    Show answer

    Answer: D He hasn’t replied, has he?

    Negative sentence, so a positive tag.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    They live upstairs, _____?

    1. aren’t they
    2. doesn’t they
    3. do they
    4. don’t they
    Show answer

    Answer: D They live upstairs, don’t they?

    No auxiliary, plural subject, so don’t they.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    I am next, _____?

    1. aren’t I
    2. are not me
    3. am not I
    4. amn’t I
    Show answer

    Answer: A I am next, aren’t I?

    The fixed form after I am.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    You have been here before haven’t you

    Show answer

    Answer: You have been here before haven’t you?

    The tag repeats the auxiliary and turns it negative.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    It wasn’t very expensive was it

    Show answer

    Answer: It wasn’t very expensive was it?

    A negative sentence takes a positive tag.

Practise this lesson in Zorg Space

In the app every rule becomes interactive practice: instant correction, reviews at the moment you are about to forget, and progress you can see from level to level — free.

Start for free

More in «Asking questions»