Question Tag (Alternative English, HS 2nd Year)

Rules for Question Tag

1. While a positive / affirmative statement takes a negative tag, a negative statement takes a positive tag. In this respect, a negative sentence may mean any sentence with words like no, not, none, nothing, little, few, hardly, seldom, rarely, scarcely, etc., that carry a negative idea.

Examples:

a)      Few students attended the class, did they?

b)     We seldom meet nowadays, do we?

c)      The audience at the back could hardly hear anything, could they?

d)     They wasted nothing, did they?

Note: In negative tag, contraction "n't" is always used instead of full "not".

2. The pronoun in the tag for everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anybody, anyone, neither, etc., when used as subjects of the main clause, is 'they'.

Examples:

a)      Everyone present applauded the gesture, didn't they?

b)     Everybody can't be a genius, can they?

c)      No one came to the rescue, did they?

d)     Anyone can become rich, can't they?

3. The introductory 'there' in the main clause is retained in the tag.

Examples:

a)      There are four peons in the office, aren't there?

b)     There are no vehicles on the road, are there?

4. Imperative sentences, when they express simple requests, generally take 'will you', even if the request is negative.

Examples:

a)      Give me a glass of water, will you please?

b)     Please don't smoke here, will you?

'Won't you' is used to lend urgency to a request.

Examples:

a)      Be merciful please, won't you?

b)     Please await your turn patiently, won't you?

5. When 'let's' is used to express suggestion, the tag is 'shall we'. 

Examples:

a)      Let's go on a trip, shall we?

b)     Let's not waste our time, shall we?

6. When 'let' is used to express permission, the tag begins with 'will'.

Examples:

a)      Let them watch television, will you?

b)     Let the students decide their batches, will you?

Rewrite these sentences adding appropriate question tags to them:

1.      It is raining, isn't it?

2.      Rahul is an excellent guitarist, isn't he?

3.      There is no food left, is there?

4.      The mansion looks beautiful, doesn't it?

5.      Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?

6.      They seldom attend classes, do they?

7.      There are no more matches in IPL this season, are there?

8.      Anybody can learn conversation in English, can't they?

9.      The headmaster was not present in the function, was he?

10.   Let her attend the class, will you?

11.   Little progress was made, was it? (

12.   Please use the staircase, will you? (Or won't you?)

13.   13. We hadn't much time to spare, had we?

14.   These clothes are expensive, aren't they?

15.   The girls want to join the armed forces, don't they?

HS 2024

1.      You like a lot of sugar in the milk, don't you?

2.      She does not speak Spanish, does she?

3.      Every dog has its day, doesn't it?

4.      Don't ignore your parents, will you?

5.      There will be a strike tomorrow, won't there?

6.      They will not come here soon, will they?

7.      He hit me, didn't he?

8.      Nobody came forward to help her, did they?

HS 2025

1.      Rubi is coming tomorrow, isn't she?

2.      He speaks French well, doesn't he?

3.      I am late, aren't I?

4.      You should have done this, shouldn't you?

5.      Please ask the boys to come in, will you?

6.      Don't go there, will you?

7.      No book is allowed, is it?

8.      You seldom come here, do you?

HS 2026

1.      Let's have dinner, shall we?

2.      The dress isn't too expensive, is it?

3.      Open the window, will you? (Or won't you? to lend urgency)

4.      The boys could swim, couldn't they?

5.      He rarely visits his parents, does he?

6.      Few people went to the show, did they?

7.      Use your common sense, will you?

8.      Everyone praised the artwork, didn't they?

Additional Questions and Answers

Category 1: Basic Rules (Auxiliaries & Non-Auxiliaries)

Rule: Positive statement takes a negative tag; negative statement takes a positive tag. Use 'do/does/did' if there is no auxiliary.

1.      She is reading a novel, isn't she?

2.      They were playing chess in the evening, weren't they?

3.      He has completed the assignment, hasn't he?

4.      We have not seen that movie yet, have we?

5.      You like classical music, don't you?

6.      The dog barks loudly at night, doesn't it?

7.      She went to the market yesterday, didn't she?

8.      I am your best friend, aren't I? (Grammar exception: "am I not" becomes "aren't I")

9.      The project has been delayed, hasn't it? (Rule: Use only the first auxiliary)

10.   You could have helped him, couldn't you?

Category 2: Words with a Negative Meaning

Rule: Statements with words like 'none, nothing, little, few, hardly, seldom, rarely, scarcely' carry a negative idea and take a positive tag.

11. Barking dogs seldom bite, do they?

12. He rarely goes out during the winter, does he?

13. Few people know the actual truth, do they?

14. We could hardly hear the speaker from the back, could we?

15. Nothing is impossible for a hardworking student, is it?

16. None of the passengers were injured, were they?

17. Scarcely anyone attended the morning meeting, did they?

18. There is little water left in the jug, is there?

19. She has spoken to him but rarely, has she?

20. They wasted nothing during the experiment, did they?

Category 3: Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Rule: The pronoun in the tag for 'everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anybody, anyone, neither' is 'they'.

21. Everyone wants to be successful in life, don't they?

22. Everybody has arrived for the function, haven't they?

23. No one knew the answer to that question, did they?

24. Nobody called me while I was asleep, did they?

25. Anyone can participate in the essay contest, can't they?

26. Anybody is welcome to join the club, aren't they?

27. Neither of the brothers passed the driving test, did they?

28. Everyone present applauded the performance, didn't they?

29. Nobody is perfect, are they?

30. Everybody will be happy with the results, won't they?

Category 4: Sentences with Introductory "There"

Rule: The introductory 'there' in the main clause is retained in the tag.

31. There is a cow grazing in the field, isn't there?

32. There were many people at the concert, weren't there?

33. There will be a national holiday tomorrow, won't there?

34. There has been a mistake in the calculation, hasn't there?

35. There are no clouds in the sky today, are there?

36. There was nothing more to say, was there?

37. There isn't any milk in the fridge, is there?

Category 5: Imperative Sentences (Commands and Requests)

Rule: Simple requests take 'will you' (even if negative). To lend urgency, use 'won't you'.

38. Open the door for me, will you?

39. Please don't make a noise in the library, will you?

40. Give me a hand with this heavy bag, will you please?

41. Have a seat in the waiting room, will you?

42. Don't forget to post the letter, will you?

43. Listen to me carefully, won't you? (Urgent request)

44. Be mindful of the rules, won't you? (Urgent request)

45. Pass the salt, will you?

Category 6: "Let's" (Suggestions) and "Let" (Permission)

Rule: When 'let's' is used for a suggestion, the tag is 'shall we'. When 'let' is used for permission, the tag begins with 'will you'.

46. Let's start the meeting now, shall we?

47. Let's not argue about this trivial matter, shall we?

48. Let him speak first, will you?

49. Let me finish my homework, will you?

50. Let the children play outside in the garden, will you?