Tag Question Past

Tag Questions

Past Tense

Let’s take a quick look at some questions tags asking for confirmation in the present. For example: You like him, don’t you? You don’t eat fish, do you? Remember that in the third person singular, the auxiliary “do” becomes “does.” For example: She likes him, doesn’t she? He doesn’t eat fish, does he?

You do remember how to use question tags, don’t you?

Today however, we are going to be looking at question tags in the simple past To form question tags in the simple past all we do is follow the same structure as for the present. We simply need to use the auxiliary “did” for all persons, in the affirmative form and “didn't” in the negative. For example: You went to school today, didn’t you? You didn’t go to school today, did you? She worked hard today, didn’t she? He didn’t pass his exam, did he? We missed our plane, didn’t we?

Simple past Verb to be was-were

*Past tense to be verb -> *affirmative verb to be

Notice these changes:

*Past tense to be verb negative verb to be

When using tag questions, watch for 3 points: *Use the same tense. *Change affirmative <-> negative. *Use the correct pronoun.

she was -> wasn't she? it was -> wasn't it?you were -> weren't you?we were -> weren't we?

Mary was worried, It was raining You were at school yesterday, We were friends,

wasn't she? wasn't it? weren't you? weren't we?

*past tense ->* negative verb to be->

*past tenseaffirmative verb to be

Notice these changes:

were they?was I? was it?

They weren't at home,I wasn't rude, This dress wasn't expensive,

they weren't -> were they? I wasn't -> was I? it wasn't -> was it?

Simple past Verb

Notice these changes:

*past tense verb negative (auxiliar did)

*past tense -> * verb affirmative ->

When using tag questions, watch for 3 points: *Use the same tense. *Change affirmative <-> negative. *Use the correct pronoun.

I said that already, You turned off the lights, Jane went to school in London,

didn't I? didn't you? didn't she?

I said -> didn't I?You turned off-> didn't you? she went-> didn't she?

*past tense affirmative verb (auxiliar dd)

Notice these changes:

*past tense ->* negative verb ->

John didn't say much, We didn't know her, You didn't play soccer,

John didn't -> did he? We didn't -> did we? You didn't -> did you?

did he? did we? did you?