Question Tags.
It is a common practice in conversation to make a statement and ask for confirmation; as,
'It's very hot, isn't it?' The later part ('isn't it?') is called a question tag. The pattern is
(i)
auxiliary+n 't +subject, if the statement is positive
(ii)
auxiliary + subject, if the statement is negative.
Examples:
(i) It's raining, isn't it?
You are free, aren't you?
She can swim well, can't she?
Jerry broke the glass, didn't he?
Your sister cooks well, doesn't she?
(ii) You aren't busy, are you?
She can’t swim, can she?
Mohan doesn't work hard, does he?
They haven't come yet, have they?
Note that the subject of the question tag is always a pronoun, never a noun.
Note these peculiarities:
I am right, aren't I?
Let's go to the beach, shall we?
Wait a minute, can you?
Have some more rice, will you?
There is a mosque in that street, isn't there?
There are some girls in your class, aren't there?
Somebody has called, haven't they?
You can test your understanding now by taking the tag question tests:
Test1:Click here
Test2:Click here