How To Use Question Tag With Auxiliary Verb (+VIDEO)

Would you like to learn how to correctly create or use question tag with auxiliary verb

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define auxiliary verb with examples.
2. Review the golden rules of question tag.
3. Use the correct question tag for statements with auxiliary verbs.

If you prefer to WATCH this lesson instead, click on the VIDEO below.

What is an auxiliary verb?

Auxiliary means “helping”.

So.

Auxiliary verbs are “helping verbs”.

They help the main verbs in most sentences to make complete sense.

Examples of auxiliary verbs

• am, is, are
• being, been
• will, would
• may, might
• has, have, had
• does, do, did
• can, could
• shall, should
• Etc.

Golden rules of question tags

The 1st.

“When the statement is positive, the tag must be negative.”

The 2nd.

“When the statement is negative, the tag must be positive”.

The 3rd.

“Replace the noun in the subject of the statement with the appropriate pronoun in the tag”.

• SEE FULL LESSON ON GOLDEN RULES OF QUESTION TAG

Creating question tag with auxiliary verb

This is the first basic rule of question tag.

It refers to how to craft your question tag when there is an auxiliary verb in the statement.

Examples

• It isn’t raining, ______?

• They were running late, ______?

Let’s see how…

1. Find the auxiliary verb

Example (1)

• It isn’t raining, ______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “isn’t”.

Example (2)

• They were running late, ______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “were”

2. Identify its form

Next is to identify whether the auxiliary verbs are in their positive or negative form.

• Positive form (… without “not”)
• Negative form (…with “not”)

Example (1)

• It isn’t raining, ______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “isn’t”.
  • Isn’t = is not (NEGATIVE FORM)

Example (2)

• They were running late, _______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “were”
  • Were = were (POSITIVE FORM)

3. Change its form

Remember.

The golden rule says that once the statement is positive, the tag must be negative…and vice versa.

Example (1)

• It isn’t raining, ______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “isn’t”.
  • Isn’t = is not (NEGATIVE FORM).

So.

Negative statement, positive tag.

“It isn’t raining, IS IT?”

Example (2)

• They were running late, _______?
  • Auxiliary verb = “were”
  • Were = were (POSITIVE FORM).

So.

Positive statement, negative tag.

They were running late, WEREN’T THEY?

In summary

Use the correct question tag with auxiliary verb by following these steps explained.

• Step #1: Find the auxiliary verb.
• Step #2: Identify its form.
• Step #3: Change its form.

Practice questions on question tag with auxiliary verb

Fill in the blanks with the correct question tag.

• He didn’t call you, ______?

• You’ve seen the movie before, ______?

Submit your answers in the comment section below and get a feedback from me whether your answers are correct or not.

Also scroll down to see other lessons on questions tags in English language.