Difference between revisions of "Tag questions with "ma""

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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们 喝 茶,<em>好吗?</em><span class="trans">Let's drink some tea, OK?</span>
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* 我们 喝 茶,<em>好 吗?</em><span class="trans">Let's drink some tea, OK?</span>
* 我们 去 咖啡 店,<em>好吗?</em><span class="trans">Let's go to the cafe, OK?</span>
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* 我们 去 咖啡 店,<em>好 吗?</em><span class="trans">Let's go to the cafe, OK?</span>
* 去 吃 中国 菜,<em>好吗?</em><span class="trans">We are going to go to eat Chinese food, OK?</span>
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* 去 吃 中国 菜,<em>好 吗?</em><span class="trans">We are going to go to eat Chinese food, OK?</span>
* 他 是 你 哥哥,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans">He is your older brother, right?</span>
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* 他 是 你 哥哥,<em>对 吗?</em><span class="trans">He is your older brother, right?</span>
* 你 不 知道,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans">You don't know, right?</span>
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* 你 不 知道,<em>对 吗?</em><span class="trans">You don't know, right?</span>
* 这样 做,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans">Like this, right?</span>
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* 这样 做,<em>对 吗?</em><span class="trans">Like this, right?</span>
* 你 喜欢 他,<em>是吗?</em><span class="trans">You like him, right?</span>
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* 你 喜欢 他,<em>是 吗?</em><span class="trans">You like him, right?</span>
* 你 没有 来 过,<em>是吗?</em><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span>
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* 你 没有 来 过,<em>是 吗?</em><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span>
* 给 我们 十 二 瓶 酒,<em>可以吗?</em><span class="trans">Give us twelve bottles of wine, OK?</span>
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* 给 我们 十 二 瓶 酒,<em>可以 吗?</em><span class="trans">Give us twelve bottles of wine, OK?</span>
* 妈妈,我 要 吃 巧克力,<em>可以吗?</em><span class="trans">Mom, I want to eat chocolate, may I? </span>
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* 妈妈,我 要 吃 巧克力,<em>可以 吗?</em><span class="trans">Mom, I want to eat chocolate, may I? </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:37, 18 February 2014

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 haven't been here, right?
  • 给 我们 十 二 瓶 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

Sources and Further Reading