Tag questions with "ma"
As well as yes / no questions, you can also form tag questions with 吗. 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?
- 对吗?
- 是吗?
- 可以吗?
By placing these on the end of a sentence, you can soften a suggestion or request confirmation. Some examples:
- 咱们去咖啡店,好吗?
- 他是你哥哥,对吗?
- 你喜欢他,是吗?
- 给我们十二瓶葡萄酒,可以吗?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144-145) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 29-30) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 21) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 23, 250) →buy