Difference between revisions of "Advanced yes-no questions with "ma""
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
−
The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|convert it into a "yes/no question,"]] and beginners will learn ''not to use 吗 with other question words'', because it's redundant. More advanced studentsm however, will note that 吗 has some more complicated structures that do involve combining it with question words in order to ask very specific types of confirming questions.  
+
The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|convert it into a "yes/no question,"]] and beginners will learn ''not to use 吗 with other question words'', because it's redundant. More advanced students, however, will note that 吗 has some more complicated structures that do involve combining it with question words in order to ask very specific types of confirming questions.  
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
Line 37: Line 37:
  
 
* 他 是 谁 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā shì shuí?</span><span class="trans">Who is he?</span>
 
* 他 是 谁 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā shì shuí?</span><span class="trans">Who is he?</span>
−
* 你 <strong>知道</strong> 他 是 谁 <em>吗</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdào</strong> tā shì shuí <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know who he is?</span>
+
* 你 <strong>知道</strong> 他 是 谁 <em>吗</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdào</strong> tā shì shéi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know who he is?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 95: Line 95:
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|吗|B1|...吗?|你 要 什么 <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGI9WXT}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|吗|B1|...吗?|你 要 什么 <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGI9WXT}}
 +
{{Rel char|什么}}
 +
{{Rel char|谁}}
 +
{{Rel char|哪里}}
 
{{Similar|Tag questions with ma}}
 
{{Similar|Tag questions with ma}}
 
{{Similar|Positive negative questions}}
 
{{Similar|Positive negative questions}}

Revision as of 03:44, 11 March 2015

The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to convert it into a "yes/no question," and beginners will learn not to use 吗 with other question words, because it's redundant. More advanced students, however, will note that 吗 has some more complicated structures that do involve combining it with question words in order to ask very specific types of confirming questions.

Structure

You'll remember that this is the simple pattern for yes/no questions:

Statement + 吗 ？

If you embed a question that uses a question word instead of a statement, you can create a more complex kind of "confirming" 吗 (ma) question:

[Question-word Question] + 吗 ？

Examples of common question words include 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), and 哪里 (nǎli).

Examples

Note that the following examples typically contains some kind of "verb of understanding" such as 知道 (zhīdao),了解 (liǎojié), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc. Then "吗" (ma) can still be added at the end of the question, turning it into a kind of confirmation. For example:

  • 这 是 什么 东西 ？Zhè shì shénme dōngxī?What is this thing?
  • 你 知道 这 是 什么 东西 吗？Nǐ zhīdào zhè shì shénme dōngxī ma?Do you know what this thing is?
  • 他 是 谁 ？Tā shì shuí?Who is he?
  • 你 知道 他 是 谁 吗？Nǐ zhīdào tā shì shéi ma?Do you know who he is?
  • 这 是 什么 意思 ？Zhè shì shénme yìsi?What is the meaning of this?
  • 你 明白 这 是 什么 意思 吗？Nǐ míngbái zhè shì shénme yìsi ma?Do you understand the meaning of this?
  • 他 的 问题 是 什么 ？Tā de wèntí shì shénme?What is his question?
  • 你 明白 他 的 问题 是 什么 吗？Nǐ míngbái tā de wèntí shì shénme ma?Do you understand what his question is?
  • 怎么 学 中文 ？Zěnme xué Zhōngwén?How does one learn Chinese?
  • 你 知道 怎么 学 中文 吗？Nǐ zhīdào zěnme xué Zhōngwén ma?Do you know how to learn Chinese?
  • 他 叫 什么 名字 ？Tā jiào shénme míngzì?What is ihis name?
  • 你 知道 他 叫 什么 名字 吗？Nǐ zhīdào tā jiào shénme míngzì ma?Do you what his name is?
  • 王 老师 在 哪里 ？Wáng lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ?Where is Teacher Wang?
  • 你 知道 王 老师 在 哪里 吗？Nǐ zhīdào wáng lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ ma?Do you know where Teacher Wang is?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4


Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Advanced_yes-no_questions_with_%22ma%22&oldid=22894"