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What are the question tags for sentences containing may, must, let's, and let us? Are the tags used in the following sentences correct?

may
1. I may buy a car tomorrow, mightn't I?
2. I may buy a car tomorrow, won't I?

must
3. You must be tired after that long walk, mustn’t you?
4. It must be very cold outside, isn't it?

let's / let us
5. Let's go to the movies tonight, shall we?
6. Let us go to the movies tonight, will you?

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    Related question, “He must have overslept, mustn't he?” versus “… , hasn't he?” or “… , didn't he?” Which is correct?.
    – user24743
    Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 10:28
  • The main "question tag" is the question mark. It implies that there is a rising tone at the end of the sentence, and that can turn a regular statement into a question. Furthermore, a properly written sentence without the question mark implies that there is no question (and no rising tone), even when the words seem to imply otherwise.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 14:00
  • And as to having words that are (rather curiously) referred to as a "question tag", there is no defined connection between the verb in a declarative sentence and the phrasing of any associated interrogatory sentence or clause. You may use any words that seem to fit the situation.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Feb 26, 2016 at 0:39

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I may buy a car tomorrow. This is a statement. The person who says it has no reason to make a tag question at the end. The person they are talking to would probably say 'Really?' At a push they might say "Might you ?"

You must be tired after that long walk and It must be very cold outside. Both of these sound like a surmise (an idea that something may be true, but without certainty; a conjecture -OED). In both cases the most likely interrogative form to follow would not be a tag but a direct question -

You must be tired after that long walk. "Aren't you?"

It must be very cold outside. "Is it?"

Let's go to the movies tonight, shall we? (not "will you?")

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  • "You must be tired after that long walk?" is a perfectly good question without adding "Aren't you?"
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 18:47
  • @HotLicks - Your question mark at the end makes a question of the sentence. Of course. Without the question mark - and the sentence would, arguably, more usually be written without a question mark - the comment is conjectural and not necessarily inviting an answer. It could be spoken in a questioning way. Or not. Besides the OP is interested in the appropriate tag question. As my answer tries to explain, this formulation is not usually given a question tag. Instead, a direct question follows immediately after.
    – Dan
    Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 21:40
  • The appropriate "question tag" is "?".
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 21:41

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