Difference between revisions of "Advanced yes-no questions with "ma""

 
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{{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 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.  
+
The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|convert simple statements into "yes/no" questions]], 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 with question words in order to ask very specific types of confirming questions.  
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Statement + 吗 ?
 
Statement + 吗 ?
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Confirmation + Question + 吗 ?
[Question-word Question] + 吗 ?
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Examples of common question words include 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), and 哪里 (nǎli).
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The "Confirmation" part include typically contains some kind of "verb of understanding" such as 知道 (zhīdào),了解 (liǎojiě), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc. Examples of common question words to use in the "Question" part include 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), and 哪里 (nǎlǐ). Then "吗" (ma) can still be added at the end of the question, turning the whole structure into a kind of confirmation yes/no question.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
  
Note that the following examples typically contains some kind of "verb of understanding" such as 知道 (zhīdao),了解 (liǎojiě), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc. Then "" (ma) can still be added at the end of the question, turning it into a kind of confirmation. For example:
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<div class="liju">
 +
*这 是 什么 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is this?</span>
 +
*你 <strong>知道</strong> 这 是 什么 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdào</strong> zhè shì shénme <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know what this is?</span>
 +
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*他 是 谁 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā shì shéi?</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 shéi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know who he is?</span>
 +
</div>
  
* 这 是 什么 东西 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì shénme dōngxī?</span><span class="trans">What is this thing?</span>
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<div class="liju">
* <strong>知道</strong> 这 是 什么 东西 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Nǐ zhīdao</strong> zhè shì shénme dōngxī <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know what this thing is?</span>
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*他 叫 什么 名字 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiào shénme míngzi?</span><span class="trans">What is his name?</span>
 +
*<strong>知道</strong> 他 叫 什么 名字 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>zhīdào</strong> tā jiào shénme míngzi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know what his name is?</span>
 +
</div>
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*她 住 在 哪儿 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài nǎr?</span><span class="trans">Where does she live?</span>
 +
*她 <strong>说 过</strong> 她 住 在 哪儿 <em>吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>shuō guo</strong> tā zhù zài nǎr <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did she say where she lives?</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*这个 标志 什么 意思 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège biāozhì shì shénme yìsi?</span><span class="trans">What does this symbol mean?</span>
* ?<span class="pinyin">shì shéi?</span><span class="trans">Who is he?</span>
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*你们 <strong>明白</strong> 这个 标志 什么 意思 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <strong>míngbai</strong> zhège biāozhì shì shénme yìsi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you all understand what this symbol means?</span>
* <strong>知道</strong> <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>zhīdao</strong> shì shéi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know who he is?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*我们 想 要 什么 ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xiǎng yào shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do we want?</span>
* 这 是 什么 意思 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì shénme yìsi?</span><span class="trans">What is the meaning of this?</span>
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*<strong>问 过</strong> 我们 想 要 什么 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>wèn guo</strong> wǒmen xiǎng yào shénme <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did he ask what we want?</span>
* <strong>明白</strong> 这 是 什么 意思 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>míngbai</strong> zhè shì shénme yìsi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you understand the meaning of this?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*的 问题 是 什么 ?<span class="pinyin">de wèntí shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is your question?</span>
* 的 问题 是 什么 ?<span class="pinyin">de wènti shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is his question?</span>
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*你 <strong>再 说 一 遍</strong> 的 问题 是 什么 <em>吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng <strong>zài shuō yī biàn</strong> de wèntí shì shénme <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Can you repeat what your question is?</span>
* 你 <strong>明白</strong> 的 问题 是 什么 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>míngbai</strong> de wènti shì shénme <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you understand what his question is?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*他 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de?</span><span class="trans">When did he start to learn Chinese?</span>
* 怎么 学 中文 ?<span class="pinyin">Zěnme xué Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How does one learn Chinese?</span>
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*你 <strong>知道</strong> 他 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 <em>吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdào</strong> tā shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know when he started to learn Chinese?</span>
* 你 <strong>知道</strong> 怎么 学 中文 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdao</strong> zěnme xué Zhōngwén <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how to learn Chinese?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*这 是 在 哪儿 买 的 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì zài nǎr mǎi de?</span><span class="trans">Where did you buy this?</span>
* 他 叫 什么 名字 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiào shénme míngzì?</span><span class="trans">What is his name?</span>
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*你 <strong>告诉</strong> 我 这 是 在 哪儿 买 的 <em>吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng <strong>gàosu</strong> wǒ zhè shì zài nǎr mǎi de <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Can you tell me where you bought this?</span>
* 你 <strong>知道</strong> 他 叫 什么 名字 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdao</strong> tā jiào shénme míngzì <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you what his name is?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*老板 的 孩子 多大 了?<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn de háizi duō dà le?</span><span class="trans">How old is the boss's child now?</span>
* 王 老师 在 哪里 ?<span class="pinyin">Wáng lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ?</span><span class="trans">Where is Teacher Wang?</span>
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*你 <strong>知道</strong> 老板 的 孩子 多大 了 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdào</strong> lǎobǎn de háizi duō dà le <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how old the boss's child is now?</span>
* 你 <strong>知道</strong> 王 老师 在 哪里 <em>吗</em>?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhīdao</strong> wáng lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you know where Teacher Wang is?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
  
 
*[[Tag questions with "ma"]]
 
*[[Tag questions with "ma"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 138-40) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|138-40}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 29-30) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|29-30}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 21) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|21}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 23, 250) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
+
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|23, 250}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
{{Basic Grammar|吗|B1|......?|你 要 什么 <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGI9WXT}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|吗|B1|Confirmation + Question + |你 要 什么 <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGI9WXT}}
 
{{Rel char|什么}}
 
{{Rel char|什么}}
 
{{Rel char|谁}}
 
{{Rel char|谁}}

Latest revision as of 09:15, 2 August 2021

The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to convert simple statements into "yes/no" questions, 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 吗 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:

Confirmation + Question + 吗 ?

The "Confirmation" part include typically contains some kind of "verb of understanding" such as 知道 (zhīdào),了解 (liǎojiě), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc. Examples of common question words to use in the "Question" part include 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), and 哪里 (nǎlǐ). Then "吗" (ma) can still be added at the end of the question, turning the whole structure into a kind of confirmation yes/no question.

Examples

  • 这 是 什么 ?Zhè shì shénme?What is this?
  • 知道 这 是 什么 zhīdào zhè shì shénme ma?Do you know what this is?
  • 他 是 谁 ?Tā shì shéi?Who is he?
  • 知道 他 是 谁 zhīdào tā shì shéi ma?Do you know who he is?
  • 他 叫 什么 名字 ?Tā jiào shénme míngzi?What is his name?
  • 知道 他 叫 什么 名字 zhīdào tā jiào shénme míngzi ma?Do you know what his name is?
  • 她 住 在 哪儿 ?Tā zhù zài nǎr?Where does she live?
  • 说 过 她 住 在 哪儿 shuō guo tā zhù zài nǎr ma?Did she say where she lives?
  • 这个 标志 是 什么 意思 ?Zhège biāozhì shì shénme yìsi?What does this symbol mean?
  • 你们 明白 这个 标志 是 什么 意思 Nǐmen míngbai zhège biāozhì shì shénme yìsi ma?Do you all understand what this symbol means?
  • 我们 想 要 什么 ?Wǒmen xiǎng yào shénme?What do we want?
  • 问 过 我们 想 要 什么 wèn guo wǒmen xiǎng yào shénme ma?Did he ask what we want?
  • 你 的 问题 是 什么 ?Nǐ de wèntí shì shénme?What is your question?
  • 你 能 再 说 一 遍 你 的 问题 是 什么 Nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn nǐ de wèntí shì shénme ma?Can you repeat what your question is?
  • 他 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 的 ?Tā shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de?When did he start to learn Chinese?
  • 知道 他 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 的 zhīdào tā shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de ma?Do you know when he started to learn Chinese?
  • 这 是 在 哪儿 买 的 ?Zhè shì zài nǎr mǎi de?Where did you buy this?
  • 你 能 告诉 我 这 是 在 哪儿 买 的 Nǐ néng gàosu wǒ zhè shì zài nǎr mǎi de ma?Can you tell me where you bought this?
  • 老板 的 孩子 多大 了?Lǎobǎn de háizi duō dà le?How old is the boss's child now?
  • 知道 老板 的 孩子 多大 了 zhīdào lǎobǎn de háizi duō dà le ma?Do you know how old the boss's child is now?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4