Difference between revisions of "Tag questions with "ma""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | As well as [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|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 | + | As well as [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|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 | + | The easiest way to do this in Chinese is to add some kind of confirmation word and 吗 (ma) on the end of the sentence. |
== Basic Pattern == | == Basic Pattern == | ||
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A you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好 (hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma). | A you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好 (hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma). | ||
| − | <div class=" | + | <div class="jiegou"> |
| + | |||
| + | ……， 好 吗？ <span class="trans">..., all right?</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ……， 对 吗？ <span class="trans">..., right?</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ……， 是 吗？ <span class="trans">..., is that it?</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | ……， 可以 吗？ <span class="trans">..., is that OK?</span> | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我们 喝 茶 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hē chá, <em>hǎo ma | + | * 我们 喝 茶 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hē chá, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's drink some tea, OK?</span> |
| − | * 我们 去 咖啡 店 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù kāfēi diàn, <em>hǎo ma | + | * 我们 去 咖啡 店 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù kāfēi diàn, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's go to the cafe, OK?</span> |
| − | * 你 喜欢 他 ， <em>是 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā, <em>shì ma | + | * 你 喜欢 他 ， <em>是 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā, <em>shì ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You like him, don't you?</span> |
| − | * 去 吃 中国 菜 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Qù chī Zhōnggúo cài, <em>hǎo ma | + | * 去 吃 中国 菜 ， <em>好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Qù chī Zhōnggúo cài, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">We are going to go to eat Chinese food, OK?</span> |
| − | * 他 是 你 哥哥 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ gēge, <em>dùi ma | + | * 他 是 你 哥哥 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ gēge, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">He is your older brother, right?</span> |
| − | * 她 不 知道 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā bù zhīdao, <em>dùi ma | + | * 她 不 知道 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā bù zhīdao, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">She doesn't know, right?</span> |
| − | * 这样 做 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zùo, <em>dùi ma | + | * 这样 做 ， <em>对 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zùo, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Like this, right?</span> |
| − | * 你 没有 来 过 ， <em>是 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méiyǒu lái gùo, <em>shì ma | + | * 你 没有 来 过 ， <em>是 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méiyǒu lái gùo, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span> |
| − | * 给 我们 米饭 ， <em>可以 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒmen mǐfàn, <em>kěyǐ ma | + | * 给 我们 米饭 ， <em>可以 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒmen mǐfàn, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Give us some rice, OK?</span> |
| − | * 妈妈 ， 我 要 吃 巧克力 ， <em>可以 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Māma, wǒ yào chī qiǎokèlì, <em>kěyǐ ma | + | * 妈妈 ， 我 要 吃 巧克力 ， <em>可以 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin">Māma, wǒ yào chī qiǎokèlì, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Mom, I want to eat chocolate, may I?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 03:04, 16 October 2014
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Keywords
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 some kind of confirmation word and 吗 (ma) on the end of the sentence.
Basic Pattern
A you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好 (hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma).
……， 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?
- 你 喜欢 他 ， 是 吗 ？ You like him, don't you?
- 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?
- 她 不 知道 ， 对 吗 ？ She doesn't know, right?
- 这样 做 ， 对 吗 ？ Like this, right?
- 你 没有 来 过 ， 是 吗 ？ You haven't been here, right?
- 给 我们 米饭 ， 可以 吗 ？ Give us some rice, 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
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144-145) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 218) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 106) →buy
