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Teacher cue
B1 · English Grammar

Tag
Questions

You are a teacher, aren't you? She can swim, can't she?

positive → negative tag negative → positive tag
The rule

Opposite polarity — always

Positive → Negative tag

You are a teacher, aren't you?
She works here, doesn't she?

Negative → Positive tag

They aren't ready, are they?
He doesn't drive, does he?

With to be

Use the same form of be

You are a teacher, aren't you?
She is at home, isn't she?
They aren't ready, are they?
It isn't cold today, is it?
With do / does

Use do or does — never the main verb

You like coffee, don't you?
She works here, doesn't she?
They don't eat meat, do they?
He doesn't drive, does he?
With modals

Echo the same modal

She can swim, can't she?
You will come, won't you?
He can't drive, can he?
They won't be late, will they?
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

She is a doctor, isn't it?

She is a doctor, isn't she?

You like pizza, don't he?

You like pizza, don't you?

He can swim, can't they?

He can swim, can't he?

She works here, doesn't it?

She works here, doesn't she?

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap to reveal

Add the tag

You are from Brazil,(be)
She works here,(do)
They won't be late,(will)
He can't drive,(can)
It isn't raining,(be)
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

The children areA playing outside, andB they lookC very happy, isn't itD?

Disn't it → don't they

✓ the tag matches the verb and subject

You haven't met my cousin, haveA you? He workB at the university, andC he teachesD chemistry.

BHe work → He works

✓ he → works

There isn't any milk left, isn't thereA? I'llB buy some whenC I goD out.

AThere isn't any milk left, isn't there → There isn't any milk left, is there

✓ a negative statement takes a positive tag

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the tag question

You've been to Paris,
The match doesn't start until 8,
She will call us later,
They weren't in class yesterday,
Speak & write

Your turn

Make a statement about someone in the class — then add the correct tag.

Make three statements about your partner and add tag questions.
You live in Curitiba, don't you? — practice with real facts.
Use can't/won't for negative statements: "She can't speak Japanese, can she?"
Check something about the teacher using a tag question.
Recap

Remember this

Positive → negative tag
are → aren't · do → don't
Negative → positive tag
isn't → is · doesn't → does
Tag pronoun
must match the subject
Modals
can → can't · will → won't

The tag pronoun must match the subject — "isn't it?" is wrong for "she".

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