Tag Questions: The Echo Check
The little echo at the end: You're tired, aren't you? It checks understanding — and it always flips: positive echoes negative, negative echoes positive.
Tag Questions
The echo that checks
A tag question is a short echo at the end of a sentence. You already know the answer — the tag just checks that the other person agrees.
The echo
a short question at the endYou're from Italy, aren't you?
Positive → negative tag
positive sentence, negative echoShe works here, doesn't she?
Negative → positive tag
negative sentence, positive echoHe is not ready, is he?
The point
check, confirm, agreeIt is cold today, isn’t it?
⚠️ The tag flips the polarity: positive sentence, negative tag — and the other way around.
The Formula
sentence + opposite short question
The tag repeats the auxiliary and the subject as pronouns. The polarity flips; the tense stays.
Youare tired,aren't you?
Sheworks here,doesn't she?
Heisn't ready,is he?
Theyleft,didn't they?
Common Mistakes
Four echo slips
The echo cracks when the pronoun is wrong, when both halves are negative, or when the tense does not repeat.
You are tired, isn't it?
You are tired, aren't you?
💡 The tag mirrors the subject: you → aren't you.
She doesn't like coffee, doesn't she?
She doesn't like coffee, does she?
💡 A negative sentence gets a positive tag.
He went home, does he?
He went home, didn't he?
💡 The tag repeats the tense: past → didn't.
There is a problem, isn't it?
There is a problem, isn't there?
💡 There stays there in the tag.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
You're coming with us, ___?
💡 Extra info2 sections
Positive or Negative Tag?
The flip rule, decided
One question decides the tag: what is the polarity of the sentence?
The Special Tags
Four tags that break the pattern
A few sentences refuse the normal flip. Learn these four and the pattern holds.
I am → aren't I?
there is no amn'tI'm late, aren't I?
Let's → shall we?
suggestions take shallLet's go, shall we?
Imperative → will you?
commands soften with willClose the door, will you?
There is → isn't there?
there repeats itselfThere's a problem, isn't there?
⚠️ I am → aren't I. Let's → shall we. Command → will you. There → there.