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Tag questions consist of a statement and a tag.
Statement Tag
You're not from California, are you?
We often use tag questions in conversations when we expect the person we're talking to to agree with us or when we want to check if some information is correct. The forms for tag questions vary, but their meaning is always similar. A tag question means Isn't that true? or Right?
You're Jackie La Costa, aren't you? (You're Jackie La Costa, right?)
In most tag questions, the voice rises and then falls on the tag.
It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
Notice that the example is really more like a statement or a comment than a question. The listener doesn't even need to answer. The listener can just nod or say uh-huh to show that he or she is listening and agrees.
A: Nice day, isn't it?
B: Uh-huh. Seems more like spring than winter.
Tag questions can also be used to get real information. In this kind of tag question, you don't expect the listener to just agree with you. You're not sure of the answer, and you really want to confirm your information. It is more like a yes/no question.
You're not moving, are you? (Are you moving?)
Like a yes/no question, the voice rises at the end, and you usually get an answer.
A: You're not moving, are you?
B: Yes, we are. We're moving next month.
Like yes/no questions, tags always use a form of be, or an auxiliary verb (a form of be, do, have, or will, or modal verbs such as can, could, should or would).
1. If the statement uses the verb be, use a form of be in the tag, too.
It's a nice day, isn't it?
2. If the statement uses an auxiliary verb, use the auxiliary in the tag, too.
You've lived here a long time, haven't you?
You can drive, can't you?
You'll be here tomorrow, won't you?
3. If the statement does not use the verb be or an auxiliary, you must use the appropriate form of do in the tag.
You come from New York, don't you?
He lives nearby, doesn't he?
They moved here years ago, didn't they?
If the verb in the statement is affirmative, the verb in the tag is negative. If the verb in the statement is negative, the verb in the tag is affirmative.
Affirmative Negative
You work on Fridays, don't you?
Negative Affirmative
You don't work on Fridays, do you?
Be careful! Only use pronouns in the tag:
Tom works on Fridays, doesn't he? NOT Tom works on Fridays, doesn't Tom?
Notice that when the subject of the statement is that, the subject of the tag is it:
That's a good idea, isn't it? NOT That's a good idea, isn't that?
Answer all tag questions the same way you answer yes/no questions.
A: You're from L.A., aren't you?
OR
You're not from L.A., are you? (Are you from L.A.?)
B: Yes, I am. I've lived here all my life.
OR
No, I'm not. I'm from New York.
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