Understanding Tag Questions in English

How do we answer a negative question? You don't like natto, do you?

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What is a Negative Question in English?

A negative question is a question that includes a negative word like “not,” “don’t,” “isn’t,” “can’t,” etc.
They’re often used to:

✅ Confirm something you believe is true
😲 Show surprise
🙋‍♀️ Make a suggestion or invite someone

What About Tag Questions?

Tag questions are little questions added to the end of a sentence:

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“You speak Japanese, don’t you?”

🧠 Rule:

If the sentence is positive, the tag is negative.
If the sentence is negative, the tag is positive.

How Do I Answer These?

In English, we answer based on the truth, not just the “yes/no” form:

“You don’t like chocolate, do you?”
✅ If you do like chocolate: Yes, I do.
❌ If you don’t: No, I don’t.

💡 In Japanese, people often say “yes” to agree —
But in English, your answer must match the truth!

More Examples Question

Question: She isn't your sister, is she?

True: No, she isn't.
False: Yes, she is.

Question: You didn't go to the party, did you?

True: No, I didn't.
False: Yes, I did.

Question: It's not raining, is it?

True: No, it's not.
False: Yes, it is.

💡 Quick Tip

If you're unsure, just answer with a full sentence!
It sounds natural and avoids confusion.

“Actually, I do like chocolate.”
“No, I didn’t go to the party.”

🔜 Want to practice this more?
We’re creating downloadable worksheets with questions and speaking prompts coming soon!
Follow us on Instagram @kohakuenglish for updates 💛