Besides the basic pattern (positive sentence + negative tag), some sentences have special question tags. Imperatives, “Let’s”, “there is/are”, “I am” and sentences with negative words like never, nobody or hardly have their own rules.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| there is/are → there | There isn't any milk, is there? |
| Let's … → shall we? | Let's go, shall we? |
| imperative → will / won't you | Open the window, will you? |
| I am → aren't I | I'm late, aren't I? |
| nobody / everyone → they | Nobody called, did they? |
When to use it
- After imperatives: Sit down, will you? Don't forget, will you?
- After “Let’s”: Let's eat, shall we?
- After “there”: There are too many, aren't there?
- Negative words count as negative, so the tag is positive: She never smiles, does she? Nobody knows, do they?
- Indefinite pronouns take “they”: Everyone came, didn't they?
Examples
- There is a problem, isn't there?
- Let's have a break, shall we?
- Close the door, will you?
- I'm right, aren't I?
- Nobody was there, were they?
- She never calls, does she?
Common mistakes
- I am late, amn't I? → aren't I?
- Let's go, don't we? → shall we?
- She never calls, doesn't she? → does she?
- There is a bus, isn't it? → isn't there?