Grammar: Asking a question

ASKING A QUESTION

_THIS IS A TESTING BETA VERSION OF THE SITE_

3 WAYS TO ASK A QUESTION

CAREFUL: THESE WAYS CAN’T BE COMBINED

1. QUESTION PARTICLE

We place the question particle at the end of the sentence

Question particle is mostly 吗 /ma/

EXAMPLES

Is the place that we go to far?

我们去的地方远吗？

Wǒmen qù de dìfāng yuǎn ma?

CLOSE - FAR

I am going to the tearoom to have some tea. Will you come as well?

我去茶馆喝茶，你也要去吗？

Wǒ qù cháguǎn hē chá, nǐ yě yào qù ma?

TO GO

Did (you) bring passport?

护照带了吗？

Hùzhào dài le ma?

EXCHANGE

Is it possible to smoke here?

这里可以抽烟吗?

Zhèli kěyǐ chōuyān ma

2. VERB - NEGATION - VERB

For instance 是不是 /shì-bu-shi/ IS or ISN’T = IS IT?

When the verb is based of 2 syllables, like 可以 /kěyǐ/ TO BE POSSIBLE, the construction looks like this:

可不可以 /kě-bù-kěyǐ/ IS IT POSSIBLE?

EXAMPLES

Please could you do me one favor?

请你能不能帮我一个忙。

Qǐng nǐ néng bùnéng bāng wǒ yīge máng.

Is there a bathroom here?

这里有没有洗手间？

Zhè li yǒu méiyǒu xǐshǒujiān?

TO BE / 有间 SPACE

Do you have a coke?

你有没有可乐？

Nǐ yǒumeiyou kělè?

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

EXAMPLES

What meat will you eat? What meat do you want to eat?

你要吃什么肉？

Nǐ yào chī shénme ròu?

RESTAURANT 什么 / WHAT?

Who are you looking for?

你找谁？

<Nǐ zhǎo shéi?>

谁 / WHO? BASIC ACT

What beer will you (do you want to) drink?

你要喝什么啤酒？

<Nǐ yào hē shénme píjiǔ?>