A tag invites the listener to confirm or correct a statement. A falling voice often expects agreement; a rising voice more often checks something uncertain.

The idea

In the usual confirmation pattern, positive statements take negative tags and negative statements take positive tags. Repeat the first auxiliary or be; otherwise use do/does/did. Use a subject pronoun in the tag.

Examples

  • The bench is dry now, isn't it?
  • Lea repaired this handle, didn't she?
  • You can't carry both bags, can you?
  • Nobody complained about the music, did they?
  • I'm next in the queue, aren't I?
  • They've never travelled by ferry, have they?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Nobody and never make these statements negative, so their tags are positive. Use they for nobody. The usual negative tag after I am is aren't I? Other tag patterns exist, with different conversational effects.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The bench is dry now, ___? (isn't it / doesn't it)

    Show answer or example answer

    isn't it

    The statement uses is, so its negative tag is isn't it. There is no need to replace be with do.

  2. Choose the correct option. Lea repaired this handle, ___? (didn't she / hasn't she)

    Show answer or example answer

    didn't she

    Past-simple repaired has no auxiliary in the statement. Use past didn't, with she referring to Lea.

  3. Choose the correct option. I'm next in the queue, ___? (aren't I / isn't I)

    Show answer or example answer

    aren't I

    After affirmative I am, the usual negative tag is aren't I. Isn't I has the wrong verb form.

Use it today

Check three details with a partner using tags: a present condition, a completed action and an ability. Say each with rising and falling intonation and discuss the change in expectation.