Grade 6 Primary English Punctuation Marks – Question Tags Notes
Primary English — Punctuation Marks
Subtopic: Question Tags ❓
What is a question tag?
A question tag is a short question added at the end of a sentence. It asks the listener to agree or confirm what you said. Example: You are a pupil, aren’t you?
Easy rules to make a question tag
- Find the main verb or auxiliary in the sentence (is, are, have, will, can, did, etc.).
- If the sentence is positive, the tag is negative. If the sentence is negative, the tag is positive. Example:
Positive → negative tag: She is ready, isn’t she?
Negative → positive tag: He isn’t ready, is he? - Use the correct pronoun in the tag: I → I (but tag uses aren’t I?), you → you, we → we, they → they, he/she/it → he/she/it.
- If there is no auxiliary, use do / does / did in the tag: You like mangoes, don’t you?
Common special cases
- I am → tag is aren’t I? (We say: I am right, aren’t I?)
- With let’s, use shall we?: Let’s go to the market, shall we?
- Imperative (commands) often use will you? or won’t you?: Close the door, will you?
- Use the same auxiliary tense: She has finished, hasn’t she? (present perfect)
Tone / Intonation (short)
- If you are not sure and ask for confirmation, your voice usually rises: You live in Kisumu, don’t you? ↗️
- If you expect agreement or are sure, your voice falls: It is hot today, isn’t it? ↘️
Examples (Kenyan life)
- You are in Standard Six, aren’t you?
- They watch football on Sundays, don’t they?
- He doesn’t eat ugali, does he?
- We will go to the farm tomorrow, won’t we?
- I am your classmate, aren’t I?
- Let’s buy tomatoes, shall we?
Quick practice
- Complete the tag: Mary can swim, _____?
- Complete the tag: They didn’t come, _____?
- Choose the right tag: You like matoke, (do you / don’t you)?
- Complete the tag: I am early, _____?
- Complete the tag: Let’s start the lesson, _____?
Answers
1. Mary can swim, can’t she?
2. They didn’t come, did they?
3. You like matoke, don’t you?
4. I am early, aren’t I?
5. Let’s start the lesson, shall we?
2. They didn’t come, did they?
3. You like matoke, don’t you?
4. I am early, aren’t I?
5. Let’s start the lesson, shall we?
Tips to remember
- Positive sentence → negative tag. Negative sentence → positive tag.
- Match the tense and the subject in the tag.
- Use “aren’t I?” for “I am”.
Keep practicing with sentences from school and home. Try adding question tags whenever you ask for confirmation — it will help you speak and write more naturally!