QUESTION TAGS EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Elementary/Intermediate (A2/B1)
A question tag is the short question added to the end of a statement — like isn't it? or do they? The core rule is straightforward: positive statement + negative tag, and negative statement + positive tag. But getting the right auxiliary verb requires careful attention. The grammar review below explains the full formation rules. This is exercise 1 of 2.
Grammar review
Question tags — structure and formation
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement, used to confirm information or invite agreement. The key rule is that the tag is always the opposite of the main clause: if the statement is positive, the tag is negative, and vice versa.
Structure: auxiliary verb + pronoun (+ not for negative tags)
“She is coming, isn’t she?”
“They don’t know, do they?”
“You haven’t met him, have you?”
Choosing the right auxiliary:
Use the same auxiliary as in the main clause. If there is no auxiliary, use do/does/did.
“He works here, doesn’t he?” (no auxiliary → use does)
“She went home, didn’t she?” (no auxiliary → use did)
“They can swim, can’t they?” (auxiliary = can)
Pronoun agreement:
The pronoun in the tag must match the subject of the main clause.
“The dog is barking, isn’t it?”
“Your parents are home, aren’t they?”
Special case — I am:
The tag for I am is aren’t I? (not amn’t I):
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement, used to confirm information or invite agreement. The key rule is that the tag is always the opposite of the main clause: if the statement is positive, the tag is negative, and vice versa.
Structure: auxiliary verb + pronoun (+ not for negative tags)
“She is coming, isn’t she?”
“They don’t know, do they?”
“You haven’t met him, have you?”
Choosing the right auxiliary:
Use the same auxiliary as in the main clause. If there is no auxiliary, use do/does/did.
“He works here, doesn’t he?” (no auxiliary → use does)
“She went home, didn’t she?” (no auxiliary → use did)
“They can swim, can’t they?” (auxiliary = can)
Pronoun agreement:
The pronoun in the tag must match the subject of the main clause.
“The dog is barking, isn’t it?”
“Your parents are home, aren’t they?”
Special case — I am:
The tag for I am is aren’t I? (not amn’t I):
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
Complete each sentence by filling in the correct question tag.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER QUESTION TAG EXERCISES:
Question tags 1 (A2/B1)
Question tags 2 (B1/B2)
More grammar exercises
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Question tags 1 (A2/B1)
Question tags 2 (B1/B2)
More grammar exercises
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