For Indian English speakers, there seems to be one.
The following are striking erroneous examples.
He is very weak, isn’t it?
I have to attend to today’s work at any cost, isn’t it?
She may come here today, isn’t it?
Speakers tend to use ‘isn’t it’ for anything and everything making it a faulty universal tag question.
In fact, tag questions are wonderful tools to support the sentences, be it affirmative or negative. The tag questions don’t exist on their own but exist as a part of the sentences.
When using tag questions, watch for 4 points:
What tense is the verb?
What kind of verb is it? (to be/other verbs)
Is the sentence affirmative or negative?
Does the pronoun need to be changed?
Affirmative becomes Negative in the tag question
Jack's happy, isn't he? (he is -> isn't he?)
Susan's tired, isn't she? (she is -> isn't she?)
It's warm today, isn't it? (it is -> isn't it?)
They're busy, aren't they? (they are -> aren't they?)
You and I are fun people, aren't we? (we are -> aren't we?)
You're quiet, aren't you? (you are -> aren't you?)
I'm intelligent, aren't I? (I am -> aren't I?)
am I not ? (I am -> am I not?)
Choose the correct tag to finish the sentence.
1. Teresa is an accountant,___? aren't she?/ doesn't she? /isn't she?/ She isn't?
2. I am a good worker,___? I am?/ do I?/ amn't I? /aren't I?
3. Peirre is a grandfather,___? he isn't? /isn't he? /he is? /doesn't he?
4. Kate is a doctor, ___? she is? /she? /doesn't she? /isn't she?
5. Jacq and Ali are students, ___? aren't they?/ are they?/ isn't he? /isn't they?
6. Mario is at work right now, ___? aren't they?/ isn't he? /is he? /isn't she?
7. I'm here, ___? am I not? /am not I?/ amn't I? /aren't you?
8. You and I are busy now, ___? aren't I? /aren't we? /we aren't? /aren't you?
9. It's windy today, ___? am I? /aren't they?/ isn't it? /isn't he?
10. I am ready for the exercise, __?
isn't it?/don't I?/aren't you?/aren't I?What do you feel about this? Please post your comments for interaction and further improvement.
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