Question Tags Exercise with Answers

Want to make your English conversations sparkle?  Question tags are the secret ingredient! These little additions can transform simple statements into engaging interactions. Ready to master this essential skill? Dive into our fun and interactive question tags exercise, complete with answers to check your progress. Let’s boost your fluency and confidence!

What are Question Tags?

Question tags are short questions added to the end of a statement to:

• Confirm information: “It’s raining, isn’t it?”
• Seek agreement: “You like chocolate, don’t you?”
• Start conversations: “Nice weather today, isn’t it?”

Structure:

• Positive statement, negative tag: “He is tall, isn’t he?”
• Negative statement, positive tag: “She doesn’t drive, does she?”

Forming Question Tags:

1. Identify the auxiliary verb: (be, do, have, modal verbs)
   
   • “She is singing.”
   • “They have finished.”
   • “He can swim.”
2. Use the same auxiliary in the tag:
   
   • “She is singing, isn’t she?”
   • “They have finished, haven’t they?”
   • “He can swim, can’t he?”
3. Match the pronoun to the subject:
   
   • “He is tall, isn’t he?”
   • “The dog is barking, isn’t it?”

Also Read: Examples of Negative Adverbials with Meaning and Usage

Basis Rules for Question Tags

In this section, we will explore basic rules for question tags before walking you through question tags exercise.

Question tags follow simple rules: A positive statement takes a negative tag (e.g., You are coming, aren’t you?), while a negative statement takes a positive tag (She isn’t here, is she?). The tag verb matches the main verb’s tense, and contractions are common. With “I am,” the tag is “aren’t I?” Imperatives use “will you?” or “won’t you?”

Keep reading for details!!

1. Start with the Auxiliary Verb

• Every question tag needs an auxiliary verb (helping verb). This is a verb that comes before the main verb.
  • Common auxiliaries: be, do, have, can, will, should, etc.
• Example:
  • Sentence: “She is walking.”
  • Tag: “isn’t she?”

2. Opposite Polarity

• If the statement is positive, the tag is negative.
  • “It’s hot today, isn’t it?“
• If the statement is negative, the tag is positive.
  • “You don’t like spicy food, do you?“

3. Matching Pronouns

• The pronoun in the tag must match the subject of the sentence.
  • “He is funny, isn’t he?”
  • “The cats are sleeping, aren’t they?”

4. Tense Agreement

• The auxiliary verb in the tag should match the tense of the main verb in the sentence.
  • “They went to the park, didn’t they?” (past tense)
  • “She is working hard, isn’t she?” (present tense)

5. Contractions

• Question tags almost always use contractions.
  • “isn’t” instead of “is not”
  • “won’t” instead of “will not”

Let’s put it all together:

• Sentence: “They are going to the party.”
  5. Auxiliary: “are”
  6. Opposite Polarity: Negative tag needed
  7. Matching Pronoun: “they”
  8. Tense: Present tense
  9. Contraction: “aren’t”
• Question Tag: “They are going to the party, aren’t they?”

Also Read: Negative Sentences Worksheet for Students

Questions Tags Exercise with Answers

Take a look at the following question tags exercise, which will help you test your knowledge which you have gained so far on this topic. You will be able to check your performance with the help of the answers we have provided in the end. 

Exercise 1: Basic Question Tags

Instructions: Add the correct question tag to each sentence:

1. He’s a doctor, _______?
2. They aren’t coming, _______?
3. She can dance, _______?
4. We have time, _______?
5. It isn’t raining, _______?

Answers:

1. isn’t he?
2. are they?
3. can’t she?
4. haven’t we?
5. is it?

Exercise 2: Pronoun Matching

Instructions: Complete the question tags with the correct pronoun 

1. The dog is barking, isn’t _______?
2. You’re a student, aren’t _______?
3. She likes chocolate, doesn’t _______?
4. We’re going to the park, aren’t _______?
5. He can’t swim, can _______?

Answers:

1. it
2. you
3. she
4. we
5. he

Exercise 3: Special Cases

Instructions: Add the correct question tags to these special cases.

1. I’m right, _______?
2. Let’s go, _______?
3. They never listen, _______?
4. Don’t be late, _______?
5. There’s no milk, _______?

Answers:

1. aren’t I?
2. shall we?
3. do they?
4. will you?
5. is there?

Exercise 4: Mixed Practice 

Instructions: Complete the following sentences with the appropriate question tags.

1. She’s been to Paris, _______?
2. You wouldn’t lie to me, _______?
3. He’ll be here soon, _______?
4. We can’t go out tonight, _______?
5. Close the window, _______?

Answers:

1. hasn’t she?
2. would you?
3. won’t he?
4. can we?
5. will you/would you/could you?

Exercise 5: Question Tags in Dialogue

Instructions: Complete the dialogue with suitable question tags:

A: It’s a beautiful day, _______? B: Yes, it is, _______? Perfect for a picnic. A: You’re free this afternoon, _______? B: I am, _______. Where should we go?

Answers:

A: It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? B: Yes, it is, isn’t it? Perfect for a picnic. A: You’re free this afternoon, aren’t you? B: I am, aren’t I. Where should we go?

Also Read: Examples of Negative Adverbials with Meaning and Usage

Questions Tags Worksheet

To master question tags, make sure you go through this worksheet on question tags, which will be helpful for you. With the help of this worksheet, you will be able to check your performance. You will find answers to all the questions in the end.

Instructions: Add the correct question tag to each sentence.

1. She is a doctor, _______?
2. They aren’t coming, _______?
3. He can swim, _______?
4. We have time, _______?
5. It isn’t raining, _______?
6. The dog is barking, _______?
7. You are a student, _______?
8. She likes chocolate, _______?
9. We are going to the park, _______?
10. He can’t drive, _______?
11. I’m right, _______?
12. Let’s go, _______?
13. They never listen, _______?
14. Don’t be late, _______?
15. There’s no milk, _______?
16. She’s been to Paris, _______?
17. You wouldn’t lie to me, _______?
18. He’ll be here soon, _______?
19. We can’t go out tonight, _______?
20. Close the window, _______?

Answer Key:

1. isn’t she?
2. are they?
3. can’t he?
4. haven’t we?
5. is it?
6. isn’t it?
7. aren’t you?
8. doesn’t she?
9. aren’t we?
10. can he?
11. aren’t I?
12. shall we?
13. do they?
14. will you?
15. is there?
16. hasn’t she?
17. would you?
18. won’t he?
19. can we?
20. will you/would you/could you?

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