Question Tag

Question tag is a significant chapter of English grammar which is new even interesting to learn. Students of earlier level of secondary education will definitely find it interesting to learn question tag with complete enthusiasm. Question tag is important for creating conversations during school education. Writing dialogues is also part of syllabus for secondary education. So, it is mandatory for all students to learn question tag with all its related rules for understanding core concepts of creating various question tags. Students often find it difficult to find appropriate study resources for getting complete knowledge about question tag. So, we have attached the entire description of fully described rules related to question tag.

Question Tag:

Question tag is a short sentence which is part of the first sentence and comes at the end of it. it comes in the form a question to extend the sentence.

There are two kinds of question tag which are positive question tag and negative question tag.

Effective Rules of Question Tag:

1.) Question tag is a small part of the main sentence which should be attached at the end with it.

Ex. I shouldn’t go there with him, should I?

2.) Tense in the question tag is used according to the tense of the main sentence.

Ex. he was not much active that day, was he?

 

3.) When the main sentence is positive then the question tag will be negative. In case of negative sentence the question tag will be positive.

Ex. everybody has come there, haven’t they?

 

4.) In question tag pronouns are always used as subject.

5.) In negative question tag contracted forms of helping verb along with not are used like didn’t, couldn’t, won’t etc.

6.) Indefinite pronouns like everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody, anyone, someone, everyone, no one, each, every, no one, none etc. are singular subjects for which these take singular verbs. But in case of question tag these singular subjects are with plural pronouns in question tags.

Ex. everyone can speak hindi in our class, can’t they?

7.) Collective nouns like team, flock, group, swarm etc. are used as singular subject in sentence. So they also take singular verbs and singular forms of pronouns for question tag.

Ex. the cricket team is in the field, isn’t it?

8.) When there is conflict in opinions of collective nouns then each person of the collective nouns are used with plural verbs and plural pronouns in question tags.

Ex. the audience have taken seats in the auditorium, haven’t they?

9.) When negative words like hardly, scarcely, barely, seldom are used in a sentence then question tag will be positive.

Ex. he hardly follow his regular routine, does he?

She has barely anything to cook, has she?

10.) In sentence with let, if sentences starts with let us/let’s then question tag will be shall we.

Ex. let us go for a long drive tonight, shall we?

11.) In case of imperative sentences the question tag can be both positive and negative based on the conditions.

If the sentence is affirmative imperative then question tag will be negative. In case of negative imperative question tag will be positive.

When there is order and appeal refer in a sentence then question tag will be won’t you.

Ex. shut the door, won’t you?

 

If there is order or offer for something to a person then also question tag will be will you/would you.

Have a cup of coffee, would you?

 

In case of referring impatience question tag can’t you should be used.

Shut your mouth, can’t you?

 

12.) If there is used as subject in a sentence then there is also used in the question tag with the same used verb.

Ex. there were no bank present, were there?

13.) Question tag should always be according to the main of the sentence.

Ex. I think she is a good singer, isn’t she?

14.) For the contracted form of am not in main sentence aren’t I is used in question tag.

Ex. I am satisfied, aren’t I?

 

Practice Set:

Make suitable question tags for the following sentences.

  1. I don’t write novels.
  2. It is very hot and humid.
  3. My friend Shweta is an honest person.
  4. I think, he is hungry.
  5. He hardly wakes up early in the morning.
  6. Let’s go out for a walk at night.
  7. My cousin is an egotistic person.
  8. Open the door.
  9. Everyone was present in the meeting.
  10. She barely has anything to eat.
  11. It was not raining there at that time.
  12. We would go for a movie.
  13. Let us play a game.
  14. No one knows music there.
  15. He was very fast learner in school days.
  16. She was very fond of chocolates.
  17. Have some more cold coffee.
  18. He is an optimistic person in life.
  19. Someone came at lunch that day.
  20. Anybody can participate in the debate.

Solutions:

  1. Do I?
  2. Isn’t it?
  3. Isn’t she?
  4. Isn’t he?
  5. Does he?
  6. Shall we?
  7. Isn’t he?
  8. Won’t you?
  9. Weren’t they?
  10. Has she?
  11. Was it?
  12. Wouldn’t we?
  13. Shall we?
  14. Do they?
  15. Wasn’t he?
  16. Wasn’t she?
  17. Will/would you?
  18. Isn’t he?
  19. Didn’t they?
  20. Can’t they?