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Question Tags

Syntax

A Question Tag is a short question at the end of a sentence which is used to check information, ask for confirmation (negative tag) or agreement (positive tag).

Question Tags usually have the following structure:

  • Positive statement + , + negative tag + …?
  • Negative statement + , + positive tag + …?

Positive statement + negative tag:

  • You called the ambulance, didn’t you?
  • He is the prime minister, isn’t he?
  • They went to the town hall, didn’t they?

Negative statement + positive tag:

  • You don’t like this political party, do you?
  • He is not going to the army, is he?
  • They didn’t arrive yesterday, did they?

Negative Tags are used with positive sentences when looking for confirmation.

Positive Tags are used with negative sentences when looking for agreement.

We use a Question Tag as a short question at the end of a sentence and we use it to check information, ask for confirmation (when it is a negative question tag) or agreement (when it is a positive question tag).

These Question Tags have the following structures:

  • Positive statement + , + negative tag + …?
  • Negative statement + , + positive tag + …?

For example:
— “You love me, don’t you?” = The speaker checks if the person loves him or not.
— “She didn’t go to school yesterday, did she?” = The speaker checks if the person went to school or not.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.

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