ENGLISH LANGAUGE NOTES
QUESTION TAG
A statement with a small question tagged to it, turns the statement into a
question.
Note: This is done to make the person addressed, to agree with the statement
made.
Example:
1. It is raining, isn’t it?
2. It is not raining, is it?
Rule1:
A positive sentence will have a negative tag.
Example:
He is coming home today.
He is coming home today, isn’t he?
Rule 2:
A negative sentence will have a positive tag.
Example:
He is not coming home today.
He is not coming home today, is he?
Rule 3:
The same tense and number(singular/plural) should be retained in the tag
question.
Example:
is - isn’t, were - weren’t
bakes - doesn’t / don’t, baked - didn’t
Exception: ‘am’ becomes ‘aren’t’ (singular verb ‘am’, takes a plural verb
‘aren’t’)
Example:
I am fine, aren’t I?
Rule 4:
Only the short form should be used in the ‘tag question’ and the apostrophe is
placed between (n and t).
Example:
aren’t, wouldn’t, didn’t, etc.
Rule 5:
Question mark should be placed at the end of the tag question without fail.
Example:
don’t they?, couldn’t they?, etc.
EXERCISE
Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate question tags:
1. He was playing cricket.
He was playing cricket, wasn’t he?
2. They worked hard for their board exams.
They worked hard for their board exams, didn’t they?
3. He will not lose the match.
He will not lose the match, will he?
4. I am doing well in my studies.
I am doing well in my studies, aren’t I?
5. I am not a composer.
I am not a composer, am I?
6. You will be rewarded.
You will be rewarded, won’t you?
7. She sings sweetly.
She sings sweetly, doesn’t she?
8. They flew kites.
They flew kites, didn’t they?
9. He has not completed the project work.
He has not completed the project work, has he?
