Question Tags Part 3 Irregular and Special Verb Forms

Ever wondered why English question tags sometimes seem to make no sense at all? Let’s dive into the strange world of exceptions that trip up even advanced learners.

Research shows that over 70% of English learners find question tags confusing, mostly because of irregular forms like ‘aren’t I?’ and ‘shall we?’ that defy standard patterns.

For example, when Maria asked, ‘I am late, amn’t I?’ during her first meeting in London, everyone looked puzzled — not because her grammar was wrong, but because no native says it that way. She learned quickly: ‘I’m late, aren’t I?’ is the only accepted form.

Some might argue, ‘Why not just follow the logical auxiliary flip for all tags?’ But natural language prefers idioms over rules, and these exceptions have stuck for generations.

So, keep these exceptions in your toolbox. They may seem odd, but using them correctly will instantly make your English sound more fluent and authentic in any conversation.

The Mystery of ‘Let’s’ and Its Tag Partner

What tag should follow suggestions like ‘Let’s start’? It’s not as intuitive as you might think, and this detail helps you sound naturally polite.

A Cambridge corpus analysis reveals ‘Let’s…, shall we?’ is used in 95% of native dialogues, beating out logical options like ‘don’t we’ or ‘will we’.

Consider the case of Carlos, a student who once said, ‘Let’s go, don’t we?’ in class. His teacher paused, then gently corrected him: ‘Let’s go, shall we?’ That tiny shift changed how his classmates responded — suddenly, he sounded more relaxed and confident.

But what if you tried, ‘Let’s eat, will we?’ or ‘Let’s meet, don’t we?’ These alternatives feel clunky or even confusing to native ears, showing that tradition sometimes overrides logic.

Next time you make a suggestion, remember: ‘Shall we?’ is your safest bet. This small touch of English etiquette can make your invitations feel both friendly and fluent.

Softening Commands with Imperative Tags

How do you turn a direct command into a friendly request in English? The answer lies in the tags we attach to imperatives.

According to a University of Michigan study, native speakers use ‘will you?’ after imperatives 80% of the time to soften orders and build rapport.

Picture Ana at her first English-speaking job. She said, ‘Close the door, please.’ But when she switched to, ‘Close the door, will you?’ her colleagues smiled — the phrase felt less like an order and more like teamwork.

Of course, some learners think imperatives should never need a tag, or that ‘can you?’ or ‘would you?’ are equally fine. But those alternatives shift the meaning to a request, not a softened command, which changes the speaker’s intent.

Mastering ‘will you?’ after imperatives is a subtle skill, but it’s one that marks you out as truly fluent — letting you lead with confidence but without sounding harsh.

Tricky Tags: ‘Have To’ and ‘Used To’ Explained

Why do ‘have to’ and ‘used to’ get special treatment with question tags? Let’s untangle these surprisingly common exceptions.

Linguists have found that in over 60% of native speaker data, ‘have to’ relies on ‘do-support’ — you’ll hear, ‘She has to leave, doesn’t she?’ rather than ‘hasn’t she?’ Similarly, ‘used to’ always takes ‘didn’t’: ‘He used to play here, didn’t he?’.

When Jose prepared for his exam, he kept making the mistake, ‘He used to play here, usedn’t he?’ His tutor’s advice — ‘Native speakers never use that form. Stick with didn’t, and you’ll always be right.’ That tip helped him pass the oral test with ease.

You might ask, ‘But if have is sometimes auxiliary, why not use ‘hasn’t she?’ The answer: in ‘have to’, it acts as a main verb, so it needs ‘do’, showing that not all have’s are created equal.

So, remember: do-support for ‘have to’ and ‘didn’t’ for ‘used to’ are the native way. Using these correctly will set your English apart in exams and real-life conversations alike. Thanks for listening, and if you’d like to experience this tip in action, visit inglesconjoe.com or message us on WhatsApp at 81 81 13 53 67. See you in the next episode — shall we?