"is it?" as tag question

Question

John:My roommate got angry at me for snorting.
Mary:So, the shoe is on the other foot now, is it?

I'm curious, why do you think Mary chose "is it" as a tag question, instead of "isn't it"?
When do you use "is it" as a tag question in a declarative (opposite of "negative sentence") sentence?

GL2 · Accepted Answer

It's mostly a question of style.  Mary seems to be having a laugh at John, who presumably has complained about others snoring in the past.

CalifJim · Answer

Probably snoring, not snorting.

Tag questions with the reverse polarity are true questions.

You're going to lunch at 11:30, aren't you? is the equivalent of I believe you are going to lunch at 11:30, but I'm not sure. I'm somewhat confident that it's true, but not completely. I really don't know for certain. Can you confirm it for me?
You're not going to lunch today, are you? illustrates the same sort of situation. I believe you are not going to lunch, but I want confirmation. I'm not sure.

An affirmative statement with affirmative tag question is not a true question. The speaker is making a statement, not asking a question. The speaker knows for certain what has happened.

There are probably a dozen different shades of meaning that can be communicated with this pattern. One of them communicates mild satisfaction at seeing someone get what punishment they deserve for having acted foolishly.

You wrecked the car driving drunk, did you? (I'll bet you won't try that again.)

Another communicates the impossibility of receiving permission to do something. Imagine a father to his daughter:

You're going to marry that tatooed man with the drug habit, are you? (Over my dead body.)

I can't think of all of the various situations where you might use this pattern, so if you see others, ask about them individually here on the Forums.

CJ

Teleostomi · Answer

Dear CalifJim, I often get the best answers from you! I'm sure I'm not alone in recognizing you as one of the best answerers on internet!

CalifJim · Answer

&lt;blush icon&gt;

Khoff · Answer

cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=65339&rendTypeId=4

Kudos to Jim! Oh, wait, these are kudus. It was a great explanation, though.

Anonymous · Answer

Dear Sir,

Could you kindly tell me the correct question tags for the following statements.

People say he is a liar.

People say ken is a cheat.

People say he is dead.

Thanks

"is it?" as tag question

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