QUESTION TAGS

THE SELECTION OF SUBJECT OF QUESTION TAG

1. If the subject of a sentence is a personal Pronoun the subject of question tag will be the same Personal Pronoun.

Eg- They read in that school.⇒ They read in that school, don't they?

She teaches English to the girls.⇒ She teaches English to the girls, doesn't she?

We did not see him yesterday.⇒ We did not see him yesterday, did they?

2. If the subject of a sentence is a noun the subject of question tag will be the Personal Pronoun according to the number and gender of the noun.

Eg- The boys read in that school.⇒ The boys read in that school, don't they?

Seema teaches English to the girls.⇒ Seema teaches English to the girls, doesn't she?

The people did not see him yesterday.⇒ The people did not see him yesterday, did they?

3. If the subject of a sentence is There, One, This/That, These/Those. The subject of question tag will be according to the below rules.

Subject of Sentence

Subject of Question Tags

There

One

This

That

These

They

Those

They

Eg- There is beauty in it.⇒ There is beauty in it, isn't it?

This book is not mine.⇒ This book is mine, is it?

Those are good examples.⇒ Those are good examples, aren't they?

These are her cows.⇒ These are her cows, aren't they?

Note- When One, This/That and These/Those are used as Adjective it means A noun is used is used just after these expressions. The subject of question tag will be according to that noun.

One, This/That and These/Those+Noun=Adjective

Eg- One boy can lift it.⇒ One boy can lift it, can't he?

This girl can make you understand.⇒ This girl can make you understand, can't she?

These women are senseless.⇒ These women are senseless, aren't they?

4. If the subject of a sentence is "No one, anyone, someone, everyone, everybody, somebody or nobody", the subject of question tag will be "They".

Eg- No one could teach you.⇒ No one could teach you, could they?
Everyone helped her.⇒ Everyone helped her, didn't they?
Someone may beat you in the market.⇒ Someone may beat you in the market, mayn't they?
Nobody has seen God.⇒ Nobody has seen God, have they?
Anyone can do this work.⇒ Anyone can do this work, can't they?

5. If the subject of a sentence is "Nothing, anything, something or everything", the subject of question tag will be "It".

Eg- Everything is clear to you.⇒ Everything is clear to you, isn't it?
Nothing could be done.⇒ Nothing could be done, could it?
Anything can be done for her.⇒ Anything can be done for her, can't it?
Something is missing.⇒ Something is missing, isn't it?

6. If the subject of a sentence is "All of us, None of us, One of us, Anyone of us, Some of us, Most of us, Everyone of us, Either of us, Neither of us", the subject of question will be "We".

Eg- All of us can do this.⇒ All of us can do this, can't we?
Most of us have read this book.⇒ Most of us have read this book, haven't we?
None of us have seen the Taj Mahal.⇒ None of us have seen the Taj Mahal, have we?
Either of us can make you understand.⇒ Either of us can make you understand, can't we?

Note- But if "You or Them" is used instead of "Us", the subject of question will be "You for you" and "They for them".
Eg- Most of you are going there.⇒ Most of you are going there, aren't you?
All of them can do this work.⇒ All of them can do this work, can't they?