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CEFR A1-A2

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Test yourself (13 questions)

Né and Não É: Portuguese Tag Questions Explained

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 11 October 2026

English tags a question onto a statement with its helper verbs: isn't it?, doesn't he? Portuguese can repeat the sentence's own verb with in front, or use the all-purpose ? after any verb. Brazil then shrinks to .

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Choose the tag that echoes the verb.

  1. Está frio, ?

  2. Ele é simpático, ?

  3. Você fala inglês, ?

  • , ? - It's cold, isn't it?

The whole system on one screen

main verbthe tagWhat do the colours mean?
Main verbExampleEnglish
, ?It's cold, isn't it?
, ?He's nice, isn't he?
, ?You speak English, don't you?
, ?She has a car, hasn't she?
any verb , ?It's cold, right?

An echo tag repeats the verb in the same person and tense: , ; , . The all-purpose ? also fits every row, in both countries:

  • , ? - You speak English, don't you?

Né: the Brazilian all-purpose tag

is worn down by use. In Brazilian speech it goes on the end of almost any statement, whatever the verb, like English right? or you know?:

  • , ? - He isn't coming, is he?
  • , ? - You're from Lisbon, right?

is informal: say it, but leave it out of an essay or a formal email. says ? far more often than .

Answering a tag question

Answer it like any yes-or-no question in Portuguese: repeat the verb.

TagYesNo
?. .
?. .
?. .
  • , ? - . - It's cold, isn't it? - Yes, it is.

A bare is possible but sounds abrupt. To agree warmly, say ., exactly, that's right, heard in both countries.

Past tense tags: não foi?

The echo keeps the tense, so a past sentence takes a past tag:

  • , ? - It was great, wasn't it?
  • , ? - You bought bread, didn't you?

still works on the end of either: , ?

Certo?, sabe?, viu?: other ways to say right?

Brazilian speech has a few more tags that check the listener is with you:

TagExampleEnglish
? , ?Tomorrow at ten, right?
? , ?I was tired, you know?
? , ?See you tomorrow, OK?

? is neutral and fine at work; ? and ? are casual. EP: says ? and ? (the form).

Why don't we...? Suggestions with não

A negative question makes a suggestion, exactly as English why don't we does. The spelling of why differs:

VarietyPortugueseEnglish
Brazilian ?Why don't we go to the cinema?
EP ?Why don't we go to the cinema?

...?, how about...?, does the same job with a noun or an infinitive:

  • ? - How about a coffee?
  • ? - How about going to the beach?

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
é ..., ? ..., ?the tag echoes
in a formal email ? or nothing is speech
? (BR) ?Brazil writes why as two words

What to do next

  1. Add ? or ? to five statements you already know.
  2. Answer each by echoing the verb, not with .
  3. Go back to Portuguese negation, or practise in the Portuguese course.

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/4

Choose the tag that echoes the verb.

  1. Está frio, ?

  2. Ele é simpático, ?

  3. Você fala inglês, ?

  4. Ela tem carro, ?

Spot the mistake

0/2

Tap the tag that does not match the verb.

Matching

0/4

Match each sentence to its English.

Translation drill

0/3

Translate into English.

  1. Você é de Lisboa, não é?

  2. Ele não vem, né?

  3. Está frio, não está? Está.

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Frequently asked questions

What does mean in Portuguese?
is a shortened , isn't it?, and in Brazilian speech it goes on the end of almost any statement, like English right? or you know?: , ?, it's cold, right? It is informal, so leave it out of formal writing. uses ? far more than .
How do you say isn't it in Portuguese?
Echo the verb of the sentence with in front: , ? for a sentence with , , ? for one with . English does the same with its helper verbs (isn't it, doesn't he); Portuguese simply repeats the real verb. The all-purpose ? also works after any verb, in both countries: , ?
How do you answer a tag question in Portuguese?
Repeat the verb, as with any yes-or-no question. , ? gets . (yes, it is) or . (no, it isn't). on its own is possible but sounds abrupt; the echoed verb is the natural answer.
Is it or in a question?
Brazil writes (two words) in a question and (one word) for because: ?, why don't we go? writes for both: ? The sound is the same.
How do you make a suggestion with in Portuguese?
Ask a negative question with , exactly as English uses why don't we: ?, why don't we go to the cinema? ...?, how about...?, does the same job with a noun or an infinitive: ?