DO-Support in Question Tags with 'Used to'
"Even in the seemingly simple addition of a tag, English grammar often reveals its preference for consistency, calling upon 'do' for support."
While many question tags directly repeat the auxiliary or modal verb from the main clause, there are instances where a supporting verb, known as 'DO-support', becomes essential. One prominent example of this occurs when the main clause uses the expression 'used to'.
The Role of 'DO-Support' with 'Used to'
When forming a question tag for a sentence containing 'used to', the auxiliary verb 'do' (or 'did' in this past context) is typically employed in the tag, rather than attempting to repeat 'used to'.
Key Point: This is a standard and expected pattern in modern English. The form 'usedn't' in a tag is considered very rare and largely archaic.
Observe how 'did' provides the necessary support in the following example:
- He used to commute by train, didn't he?
Here, the main clause describes a past habit with 'used to', and the tag naturally incorporates 'did' for 'DO-support' to form the question.
"The elegance of 'DO-support' in question tags, particularly with 'used to', underscores the systematic yet adaptive nature of English auxiliary verbs."
