Tag questions with "ma"

As well as yes / no questions, you can also form tag questions with 吗 (ma). Tag questions are quick questions that are tagged on the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation. In English, this is often done with "right?", or by adding the negative form of the verb phrase - e.g., "isn't it?".

The easiest way to do this in Chinese is to add an adjective and 吗 on the end of the sentence.

Basic Pattern

• ……， 好 吗？ ..., all right?
• ……， 对 吗？ ..., right?
• ……， 是 吗？ ..., is that it?
• ……， 可以 吗？ ..., is that OK?

By placing these on the end of a sentence, you can soften a suggestion or request confirmation.

Examples

• 我们 喝茶，好吗？Let's drink some tea, OK?
• 我们去咖啡店，好吗？Let's go to the cafe, OK?
• 去吃中国菜，好吗？We are going to go to eat Chinese food, OK?
• 他是你哥哥，对吗？He is your older brother, right?
• 你 不 知道，对吗？You don't know, right?
• 这样 做，对吗？Like this, right?
• 你 喜欢 他，是吗？You like him, right?
• 你 没有 来 过，是吗？You didn't come, right?
• 给我们十二瓶葡萄酒，可以吗？Give us twelve bottles of wine, OK?
• 妈妈，我 要 吃 巧克力，可以吗？Mom, I want to eat chocolate, may I?

See also

• Yes-no questions with "ma"
• Tag questions with "bu"
• Questions with "ne"

Sources and Further Reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144-145) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 218) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 106) →buy