Understanding Some Tag Pronouns in Question Tags for Effective Communication

Some Tag Pronouns in Question Tags

Question tags are short questions added at the end of statements to confirm or seek agreement. They often use specific pronouns based on the subject of the sentence. Below, we explore the nuances of question tags with detailed explanations and examples.

Question Tags with This/That and These/Those

When using this or that, the tag pronoun is always it. For these or those, the tag pronoun is they.

✧ This/That is your book, isn’t it?

✧ These/Those are yours, aren’t they?

Note: The tag pronoun for this/that = it; for these/those = they.

Question Tags with Everything, Something, Anything, and Nothing

For indefinite pronouns like everything, something, anything, and nothing, the tag pronoun is always it.

✧ Everything is okay, isn’t it?

✧ Something is wrong, isn’t it?

✧ Anything is possible, isn’t it?

✧ Nothing can happen, can it?

Note: The tag pronoun for everything, something, anything, and nothing = it.

Question Tags with One

When using one as the subject, the tag pronoun can be he, you, or one, depending on the context. Prescriptive grammar often requires one.

✧ One can’t eat a dozen oranges, can he?

✧ One can eat a dozen oranges, can’t you?

✧ One can eat a dozen oranges, can’t one?

Note: The tag pronoun for one = he/you/one.

Question Tags with Child or Baby

When referring to a child or baby, the tag pronoun is it.

✧ The child is crying, isn’t it?

Note: The tag pronoun for child/baby = it.

Question Tags with All of Us, All of Them, and All of You

When using collective phrases like all of us, all of them, or all of you, the tag pronouns are we, they, and you, respectively.

✧ All of us have seen the Red Fort, haven’t we?

✧ All of them have seen the Taj Mahal, haven’t they?

✧ All of you know English, don’t you?

Note: The tag pronoun for all of us/none of us/some of us = we; for all of them/none of them/some of them = they; for all of you/none of you/some of you = you.

Question Tags with Abstract Implications

When using the + common noun to express an abstract idea, the tag pronoun is it.

✧ The future (=futurity) is unknown to us, isn’t it?

✧ The beast (=animal nature) in you should be checked, shouldn’t it?

✧ The mother (=motherly feelings) in her could not bear the sight, could it?

✧ The father (=fatherly feelings) in him rose at the sight of the baby, didn’t it?

✧ The fox (=cunningness) was found in him, wasn’t it?

✧ The lion (=boldness) was found in him, wasn’t it?

Note: The tag pronoun for the + common noun expressing something abstract, especially inside a person = it.

Question Tags with The + Adjective

When using the + adjective to refer to a group of people, the tag pronoun is they.

✧ Only the strong (=strong people in general) survive, don’t they?

✧ The unemployed (=unemployed people in general) are getting restless, aren’t they?

✧ The rich (=rich people in general) are not always happy, are they?

✧ The poor (=poor people in general) get poorer, don’t they?

✧ The unfed (=unfed people in general) should be fed, shouldn’t they?

✧ The impossible (=impossible things in general) are made possible by man, aren’t they?

Note: The tag pronoun for the + adjective expressing a plural common noun = they.

Question Tags with Had Better and Had Rather

When using had better or had rather, the question tag takes hadn’t.

✧ You had better stay in bed, hadn’t you?

✧ You had rather wait a minute, hadn’t you?

Note: With had better/had rather, the question tag takes hadn’t.

Question Tags with Double Negation

Sentences with double negation require affirmative question tags.

✧ Not all imperatives have no subject, do they?

✧ Nobody has nothing to eat, do they?

Note: Sentences with double negation require affirmative question tags.