When do I use "Positive tag" and when do I use "Negative tag"?

Positive sentence → negative tag ("She works, DOESN'T she?"). Negative sentence → positive tag ("She doesn't work, DOES she?"). Repeat the main clause auxiliary. No auxiliary = use DO/DOES/DID.

What is the most common mistake with "Positive tag" and "Negative tag"?

The four most common errors: 1. positive tag with positive sentence: "She works here, DOES she?" is wrong, the rule is opposite: positive → negative: "She works, DOESN'T she?" 2. Wrong pronoun: "doesn't HER?" (correct: "doesn't SHE?"). 3. Wrong auxiliary: "She works, isn't she?" (correct: "doesn't she?", present simple uses DO/DOES). 4. "I am right, amn't I?", the standard form is "aren't I?"

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Positive tagvsNegative tag

Question tags are mini-questions at the end of a sentence; a positive statement takes a negative tag and vice versa.

Side-by-side comparison

Positive tag

structure

Question tags invert the polarity of the main sentence: if the sentence is affirmative, the tag is negative; if it is negative, the tag is affirmative.

The budget for next quarter has already been approved, hasn't it? I thought the board signed off on it last week.
You have worked with this client before, haven't you? You should have some context on their communication preferences.
She is leading the new product launch, isn't she? I saw her name on the project brief that came through this morning.

Negative tag

structure

The tag also repeats the auxiliary from the main clause and pairs it with a pronoun. "She's coming, isn't she?" If there is no auxiliary, use "do/does/did".

The report hasn't been sent to the client yet, has it? I want to add one more section before it goes out.
They didn't announce the restructuring plan at the all-hands meeting, did they? I heard the communication was delayed.
You won't be in the office on Friday, will you? We were thinking of organizing a small farewell for the team.

Common mistake

The four most common errors:

1.positive tag with positive sentence: "She works here, DOES she?" is wrong, the rule is opposite: positive → negative: "She works, DOESN'T she?"
2.Wrong pronoun: "doesn't HER?" (correct: "doesn't SHE?").
3.Wrong auxiliary: "She works, isn't she?" (correct: "doesn't she?", present simple uses DO/DOES).
4."I am right, amn't I?", the standard form is "aren't I?"

Trick to remember it

Think of a bounce: what you state, the tag questions, and the other way around. Say something positive and the tag doubts it in the negative. Say something negative and the tag doubts it in the positive. The auxiliary stays the same, and the subject is always a pronoun, never a noun.

Quick rule

•Positive sentence → negative tag ("She works, DOESN'T she?").
•Negative sentence → positive tag ("She doesn't work, DOES she?").
•Repeat the main clause auxiliary.
•No auxiliary = use DO/DOES/DID.

Did you know?

English question tags are one of the most idiomatic aspects of the language and what most distinguishes it from its European cousins. English is the only major European language that forms tags dynamically by repeating the specific auxiliary of each sentence. This makes them grammatically rich and socially very nuanced: the intonation of the tag communicates whether the speaker genuinely seeks confirmation (falling intonation) or is gently initiating conversation (rising intonation). Two identical phrases, two completely different intentions, determined solely by melody.