Question Tags with Would, Could, Must Exercises

The modal verbs would, could, and must follow the same tag pattern as other modals — copy the modal and reverse polarity. "You would like some tea, wouldn't you?" "She could help us, couldn't she?" "We must leave early, mustn't we?" These modals are particularly common in polite requests (would), past ability and suggestions (could), and obligations (must).

One interesting point arises with must for deduction. When "must" expresses a logical conclusion ("You must be tired" — I can see evidence of this), some speakers use "mustn't you?" while others prefer to tag the underlying "be" verb: "aren't you?" Both are grammatically acceptable. However, when "must" expresses obligation ("You must finish this" — it is required), the tag is always "mustn't you?" Understanding whether "must" means obligation or deduction helps you choose the most natural tag in context, though either option will be understood by native speakers. These three modals appear frequently in B1-B2 level examinations and in everyday polite conversation.