The teachers don't teach us … ?

Analyze the question The sentence "The teachers don't teach us..." needs a question tag to complete it. A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to confirm or check information.

Explain the concept The rule for question tags is:

• A positive statement takes a negative tag (e.g. "She sings, doesn't she?").
• A negative statement takes a positive tag (e.g. "She doesn't sing, does she?").
• The tag uses the same auxiliary verb and tense as the main statement.
• The tag uses a pronoun that replaces the subject (teachers → they).

Step-by-step solution

1. The statement is negative: "The teachers don't teach us."
2. So the tag must be positive.
3. The auxiliary verb is do (present simple tense), so the tag is do.
4. The subject "The teachers" becomes the pronoun they.
5. The tag is therefore: do they?

Checking the other options:

• B. don't they is negative, so it cannot follow a negative statement.
• C. didn't they is negative and in the past tense, so it is wrong on both counts.
• D. isn't it does not match the auxiliary verb or the subject.

Correct sentence: "The teachers don't teach us, do they?"

Answer: A

Exam tip: Remember the rule "opposite attitude, same helper." If the statement is negative, make the tag positive. If it is positive, make the tag negative. Always repeat the same auxiliary verb and use the right pronoun.