A2 · Elementary · Practice

Question Tags: A2 Exercises

60 exercises · 20 multiple choice · 20 fill in the blank · 20 word ordering

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A question tag turns a statement into an invitation. You're from Georgia, aren't you? is not really a request for information — the speaker already believes the answer — it is a way of including the listener, and English conversation is full of them. A learner who never produces one is understood perfectly and still sounds slightly formal, because tags are one of the main things that make speech feel like a conversation rather than a series of announcements.

Every tag is built by two moves in a fixed order. Find the auxiliary in the statement and repeat it; then flip the sign, so a positive statement takes a negative tag and a negative statement takes a positive one. If there is no auxiliary, bring in do, does or did. These sixty exercises drill both moves, the two irregular tags — aren't I after I'm and shall we after let's — and the words that are negative without containing not: never, hardly and nobody all take a positive tag.

60 exercises in this set

3 question types

~25 minutes to finish

80% to pass

What these exercises drill

Every question in this set tests one of the rules below. If any of them is unfamiliar, read the Question Tags lesson first — practice before the rule is understood mostly teaches you your own guesses.

A positive statement takes a negative tag; a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Repeat the auxiliary from the statement in the tag, with the matching pronoun.
If there is no auxiliary, the tag uses do, does or did.
I am takes the irregular tag aren't I, and let's takes shall we.

Practise Question Tags now

Answer at your own pace — nothing is timed and nothing is submitted. Each answer is marked the moment you give it, the explanation appears whether you were right or wrong, and the progress bar tracks all 60. Your score is saved in this browser, and to your account if you are signed in.

Multiple choice questions

Choose the correct answer.

You're Italian, ___ ?are you · aren't you · isn't it · don't you
She isn't coming, ___ ?isn't she · is she · does she · doesn't she
He works in a bank, ___ ?isn't he · doesn't he · does he · won't he
They went home early, ___ ?didn't they · did they · don't they · weren't they
I'm late, ___ ?amn't I · aren't I · am I · isn't it
Let's take a break, ___ ?will we · shall we · don't we · shan't we
She never eats meat, ___ ?doesn't she · does she · isn't she · didn't she
You can drive, ___ ?can't you · don't you · do you · aren't you
We haven't met before, ___ ?haven't we · have we · do we · didn't we
Nobody phoned, ___ ?did he · did they · didn't they · did it
Which sentence has the wrong tag?You're ready, aren't you? · You aren't ready, are you? · You're ready, are you? · You can help, can't you?
It won't rain, ___ ?won't it · will it · does it · isn't it
Your sister is a doctor, ___ ?isn't your sister · isn't she · is she not · doesn't she
They've finished, ___ ?haven't they · have they · didn't they · don't they
Close the door, ___ ?don't you · will you · aren't you · shall you
He hardly ever complains, ___ ?doesn't he · does he · isn't he · didn't he
You'd like some tea, ___ ?wouldn't you · don't you · would you · aren't you
What is the tag for I'm not late?aren't I · am I · amn't I · do I
You don't drive, do you? You DO drive. What do you answer?No, I do. · Yes, I do. · No, I don't. · Yes, I don't.
Somebody left a message, ___ ?didn't he · didn't they · didn't it · did they

Fill-in-the-blank questions

Type the missing word.

You're from Baku, __________ you?
She isn't ready yet, __________ she?
He lives near the station, __________ he?
They arrived on Tuesday, __________ they?
I'm next in the queue, __________ I?
Let's order a taxi, __________ we?
She never answers her phone, __________ she?
You can swim, __________ you?
We haven't paid yet, __________ we?
Nobody told you, __________ they?
It won't take long, __________ it?
Your brother works abroad, __________ he?
They've moved house, __________ they?
Open the window, __________ you?
He hardly ever calls, __________ he?
You'd prefer the earlier train, __________ you?
I'm not on the list, __________ I?
Somebody has taken my seat, __________ they?
The shops close at six, __________ they?
That wasn't very clever, __________ it?

Sentence structure: word ordering

Put the words in the correct order.

Check somebody's attendance, expecting yes.You're / coming / tonight, / aren't / you?
Check a worry about somebody's health.She / isn't / well, / is / she?
Confirm a colleague's workplace.He / works / here, / doesn't / he?
Check a memory about a past departure.They / left / early, / didn't / they?
Apologise using the one irregular tag.I'm / late / again, / aren't / I?
Suggest an activity with the fixed tag.Let's / go / for / a / walk, / shall / we?
Praise somebody's patience with a negative word.She / never / complains, / does / she?
Check whether somebody has a licence.You / can / drive, / can't / you?
Check whether an introduction is needed.We / haven't / met / before, / have / we?
Check that there were no calls.Nobody / phoned / this / morning, / did / they?
Check the weather before going out.It / won't / rain / today, / will / it?
Confirm a family member's profession.Your / sister / is / a / nurse, / isn't / she?
Check on the progress of a job.They've / finished / the / work, / haven't / they?
Soften an instruction with a tag.Close / the / gate, / will / you?
Comment on somebody's poor correspondence.He / hardly / ever / writes, / does / he?
Offer a drink expecting agreement.You'd / like / some / coffee, / wouldn't / you?
Check a suspicion about being left out.I'm / not / invited, / am / I?
Check opening hours with a plural subject.The / shops / close / at / six, / don't / they?
Comment on a difficult task just finished.That / wasn't / easy, / was / it?
Check a suspicion about an unknown person.Somebody / has / moved / my / bag, / haven't / they?

Show the answer key for all 60 exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. You're Italian, ___ ? → aren't you: A positive statement takes a negative tag, repeating the auxiliary are.
2. She isn't coming, ___ ? → is she: A negative statement takes a positive tag.
3. He works in a bank, ___ ? → doesn't he: There is no auxiliary, so the tag brings in does.
4. They went home early, ___ ? → didn't they: A past statement with no auxiliary takes didn't in the tag.
5. I'm late, ___ ? → aren't I: Aren't I is the one irregular tag in the system.
6. Let's take a break, ___ ? → shall we: Let's always takes shall we.
7. She never eats meat, ___ ? → does she: Never is already negative, so the tag is positive.
8. You can drive, ___ ? → can't you: The tag repeats the modal can and reverses the sign.
9. We haven't met before, ___ ? → have we: A negative statement takes a positive tag with the same auxiliary.
10. Nobody phoned, ___ ? → did they: Nobody is negative and takes they in the tag.
11. Which sentence has the wrong tag? → You're ready, are you?: A positive statement needs a negative tag; a positive tag sounds sceptical.
12. It won't rain, ___ ? → will it: Won't is negative, so the tag is positive.
13. Your sister is a doctor, ___ ? → isn't she: The tag always uses a pronoun, never a repeated noun.
14. They've finished, ___ ? → haven't they: The auxiliary have is repeated and made negative.
15. Close the door, ___ ? → will you: Imperatives take will you, would you or can you.
16. He hardly ever complains, ___ ? → does he: Hardly ever is negative in meaning, so the tag is positive.
17. You'd like some tea, ___ ? → wouldn't you: You'd is you would, so the tag uses wouldn't.
18. What is the tag for I'm not late? → am I: The negative statement takes the regular positive tag am I.
19. You don't drive, do you? You DO drive. What do you answer? → Yes, I do.: English yes and no follow the facts, not the politeness of the question.
20. Somebody left a message, ___ ? → didn't they: Somebody takes they in the tag when the person is unknown.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. You're from Baku, ___ you? → aren't: A positive statement takes a negative tag with the same auxiliary.
2. She isn't ready yet, ___ she? → is: A negative statement takes a positive tag.
3. He lives near the station, ___ he? → doesn't: There is no auxiliary in the statement, so the tag uses does.
4. They arrived on Tuesday, ___ they? → didn't: A past statement with no auxiliary takes didn't in the tag.
5. I'm next in the queue, ___ I? → aren't: Aren't I is the one irregular tag in English.
6. Let's order a taxi, ___ we? → shall: Let's always takes shall we.
7. She never answers her phone, ___ she? → does: Never is negative, so the tag is positive.
8. You can swim, ___ you? → can't: The modal can is repeated and made negative.
9. We haven't paid yet, ___ we? → have: A negative statement takes a positive tag.
10. Nobody told you, ___ they? → did: Nobody is negative and takes they in the tag.
11. It won't take long, ___ it? → will: Won't is negative, so the tag is positive.
12. Your brother works abroad, ___ he? → doesn't: The statement has no auxiliary, so the tag brings in does.
13. They've moved house, ___ they? → haven't: The auxiliary have is repeated and made negative.
14. Open the window, ___ you? → will: Imperatives take will you or would you.
15. He hardly ever calls, ___ he? → does: Hardly ever is negative in meaning, so the tag is positive.
16. You'd prefer the earlier train, ___ you? → wouldn't: You'd is you would, so the tag uses wouldn't.
17. I'm not on the list, ___ I? → am: The negative statement takes the regular positive tag.
18. Somebody has taken my seat, ___ they? → haven't: Somebody takes they in the tag, with the auxiliary have.
19. The shops close at six, ___ they? → don't: A present statement with no auxiliary takes don't for a plural subject.
20. That wasn't very clever, ___ it? → was: A negative statement takes a positive tag with the same auxiliary.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Check somebody's attendance, expecting yes. → You're coming tonight, aren't you?: Check somebody's attendance, expecting yes.
2. Check a worry about somebody's health. → She isn't well, is she?: Check a worry about somebody's health.
3. Confirm a colleague's workplace. → He works here, doesn't he?: Confirm a colleague's workplace.
4. Check a memory about a past departure. → They left early, didn't they?: Check a memory about a past departure.
5. Apologise using the one irregular tag. → I'm late again, aren't I?: Apologise using the one irregular tag.
6. Suggest an activity with the fixed tag. → Let's go for a walk, shall we?: Suggest an activity with the fixed tag.
7. Praise somebody's patience with a negative word. → She never complains, does she?: Praise somebody's patience with a negative word.
8. Check whether somebody has a licence. → You can drive, can't you?: Check whether somebody has a licence.
9. Check whether an introduction is needed. → We haven't met before, have we?: Check whether an introduction is needed.
10. Check that there were no calls. → Nobody phoned this morning, did they?: Check that there were no calls.
11. Check the weather before going out. → It won't rain today, will it?: Check the weather before going out.
12. Confirm a family member's profession. → Your sister is a nurse, isn't she?: Confirm a family member's profession.
13. Check on the progress of a job. → They've finished the work, haven't they?: Check on the progress of a job.
14. Soften an instruction with a tag. → Close the gate, will you?: Soften an instruction with a tag.
15. Comment on somebody's poor correspondence. → He hardly ever writes, does he?: Comment on somebody's poor correspondence.
16. Offer a drink expecting agreement. → You'd like some coffee, wouldn't you?: Offer a drink expecting agreement.
17. Check a suspicion about being left out. → I'm not invited, am I?: Check a suspicion about being left out.
18. Check opening hours with a plural subject. → The shops close at six, don't they?: Check opening hours with a plural subject.
19. Comment on a difficult task just finished. → That wasn't easy, was it?: Comment on a difficult task just finished.
20. Check a suspicion about an unknown person. → Somebody has moved my bag, haven't they?: Check a suspicion about an unknown person.

The errors these questions are built to catch

You are from Baku, are you?

You are from Baku, aren't you?

A positive statement needs a negative tag; a positive tag after a positive statement sounds sarcastic or surprised.
She never eats meat, doesn't she?

She never eats meat, does she?

Never already makes the statement negative, so the tag must be positive.
Your sister is a doctor, isn't your sister?

Your sister is a doctor, isn't she?

The tag always uses a pronoun, never a repeated noun.

After this set

Tags handle the social side of a statement. The last two grammar topics of A2 handle its logic: the zero and first conditionals.