Question tags | B1 Grammar

“You live near here, don’t you?” The short question at the end invites a response or checks that the speaker is right.

Build the tag

Start with the statement. Use the same auxiliary or modal in the tag, then use a pronoun for the subject. A positive statement normally has a negative tag; a negative statement has a positive tag.

She is ready, isn’t she?
They aren’t coming, are they?
You can swim, can’t you?
He didn’t call, did he?

If the statement has no auxiliary, use do/does/did: Marta likes jazz, doesn’t she?

Match the tag to the verb structure

An auxiliary is a helper verb such as be, have or do. A modal such as can or will can also form the tag.

Statement	Tag	Reason
She's working ...	... isn't she?	She's means she is.
She's finished ...	... hasn't she?	She's means she has.
She works here ...	... doesn't she?	Present simple needs does.
She worked here ...	... didn't she?	Past simple needs did.
She'll help ...	... won't she?	The modal is will.

The contraction 's can represent two different helpers. Look at the next word: working points to is, while finished in a perfect construction points to has.

The tag's subject is normally a pronoun: The café is open, isn't it?; Your friends arrived, didn't they? Do not repeat the full noun phrase in the tag.

Negative words also change the tag

He never calls, does he? has a positive tag because never makes the statement negative. Nobody answered, did they? works in the same way.

The negative meaning does not have to be written as not. She hardly speaks, does she? is another example. At B1, start by recognising never, nobody and nothing before choosing the tag's positive or negative form.

What does the speaker mean?

A falling voice often seeks agreement: It’s a lovely day, isn’t it? A rising voice can make the tag a more genuine check: The meeting starts at nine, doesn’t it? In writing, the words are the same; the context helps you read the intention.

Check each part

Statement: Your parents live nearby.

It is positive, so make the tag negative.
There is no auxiliary, so use do for a plural present subject.
Replace your parents with they.

Result: Your parents live nearby, don’t they?

A common special form is I’m late, aren’t I? Learn it as a useful phrase.

Answer according to the real situation

Suppose someone says You don't drive, do you?

If you drive: Yes, I do.
If you do not drive: No, I don't.

English yes confirms the positive fact “I drive”, even though the first statement was negative. No confirms “I don't drive”. Adding the auxiliary makes the answer clear.

If someone says The lesson starts at nine, doesn't it?, you can agree with Yes, it does or correct them with No, it starts at nine thirty.

Useful special patterns

I'm early, aren't I? uses the common tag aren't I, despite the statement's am. A negative statement uses am I: I'm not late, am I?

Let's take a break, shall we? is a common suggestion. An instruction can use will you?: Close the door, will you? Tone matters; this may sound friendly, impatient or demanding.

With there is/are, keep there in the tag: There's a café nearby, isn't there? With everyone/someone, they is natural in the tag: Everyone is ready, aren't they? The statement has singular is, but the pronoun they takes are.

Listen for the purpose

A falling voice often means the speaker expects agreement: It's warm today, isn't it? A rising voice often signals a genuine check. These are common tendencies, not a guarantee of the speaker's intention.

For a reliable starting method, find the helper, decide whether the statement is positive or negative, and choose a pronoun. Your brother has finished, hasn't he? then becomes a meaningful invitation to confirm information, rather than a memorised ending.

Sources and further reading

British Council LearnEnglish: Question tags