Rules for the Tag Questions
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| Do not | don’t |
| Has not | hasn’t |
| Does not | doesn’t |
| Have not | haven’t |
| Did not | didn’t |
| Had not | hadn’t |
| Am not | aren’t* |
| Cannot | can’t |
| Is not | isn’t |
| Could not | couldn’t |
| Are not | aren’t |
| May not | mayn’t |
| Was not | wasn’t |
| Might not | mightn’t |
| Were not | weren’t |
| Must not | mustn’t |
| Will not | won’t |
| Ought not | oughtn’t |
| Shall not | shan’t |
| Need not | needn’t |
Note: "am not" becomes “aren’t” only in tag questions, e.g., "I’m late, aren’t I?"
Tag Question Rules with Examples
Rule 1
Use the auxiliary verb from the statement to form the tag.
- He isn’t a doctor, is he?
- Ratan was playing football, wasn’t he?
Rule 2
If no auxiliary verb is present, use do/does/did in the tag.
- He lives in London, doesn’t he?
- They go to Cox’s Bazar, don’t they?
Rule 3
With exclamatory sentences, use pronoun form in tag.
- How beautiful a girl is, isn’t she?
- What a nice bird, isn’t it?
Rule 4
Use the same modal in the tag for modal auxiliary verbs.
- We must do the homework, mustn’t we?
Rule 5
When using “need/needs,” use don’t/doesn’t in the tag.
- She needs a flower, doesn’t she?
Rule 6
For complex sentences, base the tag on the main clause.
- If you buy a book, you will gain knowledge, won’t you?
Rule 7
In compound sentences, use the second clause's verb and subject for the tag.
- Sumaiya has a garden but there isn't a flower tree, is it?
Rule 8 & 9
Imperative sentences (commands/advice):
- Don’t go there, will you?
- Close the book, won’t you?
For requests:
- Help me, can you?
Rule 10
Let him/her/them → use will you.
- Let him go, will you?
Rule 11
Let’s / Let us → use shall we.
- Let us open the book, shall we?
Rule 12
With group phrases (e.g., along with), tag matches the 1st subject.
- He along with his friends has done the work, hasn’t he?
Rule 13
With “Not only... but also,” tag follows the 2nd subject.
- Not only Shamim but also Rakib is present, isn’t he?
Rule 14
Everyone, nobody, etc. → tag subject = they.
- Everybody likes him, don’t they?
Rule 15
Something, nothing, etc. → tag subject = it.
- Nothing is impossible, isn’t it?
Rule 16
Most/all/noun of you → tag subject = you.
- All of you know this, don’t you?
Rule 17
Most/all/noun of them → tag subject = they.
- Most of them are coming, aren’t they?
Rule 18
Country names → tag subject = she.
- Bangladesh is a beautiful country, isn’t she?
Rule 19
Moon, ship, train, etc. → tag subject = she.
- The train is late, isn’t she?
Rule 20
This/that → it, these/those → they.
- This is fun, isn’t it?
- Those are your books, aren’t they?
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