2. Rules
1. Use the same auxiliary verb as in the main clause. If there
is no auxiliary, use do, does, or did.
2. If the main clause is negative, the tag is affirmative; if the
main clause is affirmative, the tag is negative.
3. Don’t change the tense.
4. Use the same subject in the main clause and the tag. The
tag must always contain the subject form of the pronoun.
5. Negative forms are usually contracted (n’t). (if they are not,
they follow the order auxiliary + subject + not: he saw this
yesterday, did he not?)
6. There is, there are, and it is forms contain a pseudo-subject
so the tag will also contain there or it as if it were a subject
pronoun.
7. The verb have may be used as a main verb (I have a new
car) or it may be used as an auxiliary (John has gone to
class already). When it functions as a main verb in
American English, the auxiliary forms do, does, or did must
be used in the tag.
3. • There are only twenty-eight days in February,
aren’t there?
• It’s raining now, isn’t it?
• It isn’t raining now, is it?
• The boys don’t have class tomorrow, do they?
• You and I talked with the professor yesterday,
didn’t we?
• You won’t be leaving for another hour, will you?
• Jill and Joe have been to Mexico, haven’t they?
• She has an exam tomorrow, doesn’t she?
• That is my pen, isn’t it?
• Those are her books, aren’t they?
• The students have never visited Bali, have they?
4. Finish these sentences by adding a tag question with the
correct form of the verb and the subject pronoun.
1. You’re going to school tomorrow, _______?
2. Gary signed the petition, _______?
3. There’s an exam tomorrow, ______?
4. Beverly will be attending the university in September,
______?
5. She’s been studying English for two years, ____?
6. It sure is sunny today, _____?
7. He should stay in bed, _____?
8. You can’t play tennis today, _____?
9. There aren’t any peaches left, _____?
10. We’ve seen that movie, _______?
