Tag Questions — Aren't You? Don't They?
French uses 'n'est-ce pas?' for everything; English requires matching tags
Category: Grammar
The Rule
English tag questions must match the main clause: positive statement → negative tag, and vice versa. The tag uses the same auxiliary. 'You like coffee, don't you?' French uses 'n'est-ce pas?' / 'non?' universally.
Why This Matters
French: 'Tu aimes le café, n'est-ce pas?' — one tag for everything. English: 'You like coffee, don't you?' / 'She is coming, isn't she?' / 'They can swim, can't they?' Each sentence needs a custom tag. French speakers try to use 'isn't it?' or 'no?' for everything.
Examples
• You speak French, don't you? — "Tu parles français, n'est-ce pas ?" [Positive statement → negative tag (don't you)] • She isn't coming, is she? — "Elle ne vient pas, n'est-ce pas ?" [Negative statement → positive tag (is she)] • They have finished, haven't they? — "Ils ont fini, n'est-ce pas ?" [Match the auxiliary: have → haven't]
Common Mistakes
❌ You like coffee, isn't it? ✅ You like coffee, don't you? → 'Isn't it' only works with 'it is' statements. 'You like' needs 'do' auxiliary → 'don't you'. ❌ She can swim, doesn't she? ✅ She can swim, can't she? → The tag must use the SAME auxiliary as the main clause. 'Can' → 'can't'.
Quick Tip
Negative main clause → positive tag. Positive main clause → negative tag. Always use the SAME auxiliary. 'N'est-ce pas' = don't do this in English.
Negative main clause → positive tag. Positive main clause → negative tag. Always use the SAME auxiliary. 'N'est-ce pas' = don't do this in English.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: You like coffee, isn't it? → Correct: You like coffee, don't you?. 'Isn't it' only works with 'it is' statements. 'You like' needs 'do' auxiliary → 'don't you'.
Incorrect: She can swim, doesn't she? → Correct: She can swim, can't she?. The tag must use the SAME auxiliary as the main clause. 'Can' → 'can't'.
Quiz
Complete: 'He won't be late, ___ ?'