Tag questions with "ma"

As well as yes / no questions, you can also form tag questions with 吗. 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？
• 对吗？
• 是吗？
• 可以吗？

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

• 咱们去咖啡店，好吗？
• 他是你哥哥，对吗？
• 你喜欢他，是吗？
• 给我们十二瓶葡萄酒，可以吗？

See also

• Yes - no questions with ma
• Tag questions with bu
• Questions with ne

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144-145) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 29-30)　→buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 21) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 23, 250) →buy