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

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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{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 - 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.  
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As well as [[Yes-no questions with "ma"|yes/no questions]], you can also form tag questions with (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 negatively with "isn't it?"
  
== Basic Pattern ==
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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.
  
<div class="liju">
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== Structure ==
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As you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好 (hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma).
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<div class="jiegou">
  
* ……, 吗? <span class="trans">..., all right?</span>
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⋯⋯, 好 / 对 / 是 / 可以 吗?
* ……, 吗? <span class="trans">..., right?</span>
 
* ……, 吗? <span class="trans">..., is that it?</span>
 
* ……, 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?</em><span class="trans">Let's drink some tea, OK?</span>
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* 这样 做,<em>对 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zuò, <em>duì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do it like this, right?</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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* 你们 见 过,<em>对 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiàn guo, <em>duì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You’ve met, right?</span>
* 去吃中国菜,<em>好吗?</em><span class="trans"></span>
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* 他们 昨天 都 没 去, <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Tāmen zuótiān dōu méi qù, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">They didn't go yesterday, right?</span>
* 他是你哥哥,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans">He is your older brother, right?</span>
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* 你 没 来 过, <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méi lái guo, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span>
* 你 不 知道,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans"></span>
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* 你 喜欢 我妹妹, <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You like my younger sister, huh?</span>
* 这样 做,<em>对吗?</em><span class="trans"></span>
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* 我们 去 你 家 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù nǐ jiā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Let's go to your place, OK?</span>
* 你 喜欢 他,<em>是吗?</em><span class="trans">You like him, right?</span>
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* 不要 告诉 他 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin"> Bùyào gàosu tā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Don't tell him, OK?</span>
* 你 没有 来 过,<em>是吗?</em><span class="trans"></span>
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* 今天 我们 都 不 喝酒, <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒmen dōu bù hējiǔ​, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?</span>
* 给我们十二瓶葡萄酒,<em>可以吗?</em><span class="trans">Give us twelve bottles of wine, OK?</span>
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* 我 现在 想 去 洗手间, <em>可以 吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the bathroom now. Is that OK?</span>
* 妈妈,吃 两 个 冰激凌,<em>可以吗?</em><span class="trans"></span>
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* 妈妈,我 要 吃 巧克力 , <em>可以 吗</em> ? <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>
  
 
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==See also==
 
==See also==
  
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
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* [[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
*[[Tag questions with "bu"]]
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* [[Tag questions with "bu"]]
*[[Questions with "ne"]]
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* [[Questions with "ne"]]
  
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 144-145) [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|HSK Standard Course 2|60}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 218) [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|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|144-45}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 106) [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|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|218}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|106}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
{{Basic Grammar|是吗|A1|⋯是吗?, ⋯对吗?, ⋯好吗?|我们 喝 茶 , <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGSJYZ2}}
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{{Basic Grammar||A1|⋯⋯是吗 / 对吗 / 好吗 ?|这样 做, <em>吗</em> ?|grammar point|ASGSJYZ2}}
{{Rel char|对吗}}
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{{Rel char|}}
{{Rel char|好吗}}
 
 
{{Rel char|好}}
 
{{Rel char|好}}
{{Rel char|对}}
 
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
{{Rel char|吗}}
 
 
{{Similar|Yes - no questions with ma}}  
 
{{Similar|Yes - no questions with ma}}  
 
{{Similar|Tag questions with bu}}  
 
{{Similar|Tag questions with bu}}  
 
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
 
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
 
{{Structure|Question Forms}}
 
{{Structure|Question Forms}}

Revision as of 09:19, 27 February 2019

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 negatively with "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.

Structure

As 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 / 对 / 是 / 可以 + 吗?

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

Examples

  • 这样 做,对 吗Zhèyàng zuò, duì ma?Do it like this, right?
  • 你们 见 过,对 吗Nǐmen jiàn guo, duì ma?You’ve met, right?
  • 他们 昨天 都 没 去, 是 吗Tāmen zuótiān dōu méi qù, shì ma?They didn't go yesterday, right?
  • 你 没 来 过, 是 吗Nǐ méi lái guo, shì ma?You haven't been here, right?
  • 你 喜欢 我妹妹, 是 吗Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, shì ma?You like my younger sister, huh?
  • 我们 去 你 家 , 好 吗Wǒmen qù nǐ jiā, hǎo ma?Let's go to your place, OK?
  • 不要 告诉 他 , 好 吗 Bùyào gàosu tā, hǎo ma?Don't tell him, OK?
  • 今天 我们 都 不 喝酒, 好 吗Jīntiān wǒmen dōu bù hējiǔ​, hǎo ma?Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?
  • 我 现在 想 去 洗手间, 可以 吗Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, kěyǐ ma?I want to go to the bathroom now. Is that OK?
  • 妈妈,我 要 吃 巧克力 , 可以 吗Māma, wǒ yào chī qiǎokèlì, kěyǐ ma?Mom, I want to eat chocolate. May I?

See also

Sources and Further Reading