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, e.g. "isn't it?"
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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 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.  
 
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 ==
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== Structure ==
  
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).
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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).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
……, 好 / 对 / 是 / 可以 +  吗?
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⋯⋯, 好 / 对 / 是 / 可以 +  吗?
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们 喝 茶 , <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hē chá, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's drink some tea, OK?</span>
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* 这样 做,<em>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>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù kāfēi diàn, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's go to the cafe, OK?</span>
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* 你们 见 过,<em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiàn guo, <em>duì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You’ve met, right?</span>
* 你 喜欢 他 , <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā, <em>shì ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You like him, don't you?</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>
* 去 吃 中国 菜 , <em>吗</em> ? <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>
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* 你 没 来 过, <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méi lái guo, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span>
* 他 是 哥哥 , <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ gēge, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">He is your older brother, right?</span>
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* 你 喜欢 我妹妹, <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You like my younger sister, huh?</span>
* 她 不 知道 , <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Tā bù zhīdao, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">She doesn't know, right?</span>
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* 我们 去 你 家 , <em>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>
* 这样 做 , <em>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zùo, <em>dùi ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Like this, right?</span>
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* 不要 告诉 他 , <em>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>吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méiyǒu lái gùo, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You haven't been here, right?</span>
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* 今天 我们 都 不 喝酒, <em>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 米饭 , <em>可以 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒmen mǐfàn, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Give us some rice, 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 , 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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* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== 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)]] (p. 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