non? / verdade?

Tag Questions

Level 3

Add non?, verdade? or certo? after a statement to check that it is true: Es de Ourense, non? (You are from Ourense, aren't you?)

How It Works

The tags.

  • non? is the most common, after a positive statement: Mañá hai clase, non?
  • verdade? works after positive and negative statements: Non te esqueciches, verdade? (You did not forget, did you?)
  • certo? is like "right?": Chegamos ás dez, certo?
  • non é? and non é verdade? are fuller versions of the same idea.
  • non si? also asks for a yes: Xa comiches, non si? (You have already eaten, haven't you?)

Pushing for an answer. ou non? after a question sounds more insistent: Vés ou non? (Are you coming or not?)

Answering. Galician likes to answer by repeating the verb: Es de Ourense, non? — Son, si. (Yes, I am.) See answering with the verb.

Writing. Separate the tag with a comma. Only the closing question mark is needed. See question and exclamation marks.

Sound. The tag non ends in the velar n, like the ng in "sing". See negation with non.

Examples (6)

  1. Es de Ourense, non?

    You are from Ourense, aren't you?

    Word by Word: Are-you from Ourense, no?

  2. Mañá hai clase, verdade?

    There is class tomorrow, right?

    Word by Word: Tomorrow there-is class, truth?

  3. Non tes frío, verdade?

    You are not cold, are you?

    Word by Word: Not have-you cold, truth?

    After a negative statement, verdade? is the clearest tag.

  4. Chegamos ás dez, certo?

    We are arriving at ten, right?

    Word by Word: Arrive-we at-the ten, certain?

  5. Gustouche a película, non?

    You liked the film, didn't you?

    Word by Word: Pleased-you the film, no?

  6. —Es de Ourense, non? —Son, si.

    —You are from Ourense, aren't you? —Yes, I am.

    Word by Word: —Are-you from Ourense, no? —Am-I, yes.

    The answer repeats the verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Spanish tag no.

    Es de Lugo, no?
    Es de Lugo, non?

    The Galician word is non, with a final n, both on its own and as a tag.

  • Using the Spanish form verdad.

    Mañá hai clase, verdad?
    Mañá hai clase, verdade?

    The Galician word is verdade, ending in -e.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

non? / verdade?Level 3Tag Questions

Learn This First

Fixed tags invite confirmation without copying the clause's verb form.

Words in This Pattern

verdadecerto