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 THIS YOURS?

这个是你的吗？

<Zhège shì nǐde ma?>

ARE THEY ALSO EUROPEANS?

他们也是欧洲人吗？

<Tāmen yě shì Ōuzhōurén ma?>

IS THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM YET?

老师已经在教室吗？

Lǎoshī yǐjīng zài jiàoshì ma?

ARE YOU COMING AS WELL?

你也要来吗？

Nǐ yě yào lái 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

COULD YOU GIVE IT TO ME A BIT CHEAPER?

你能不能给我便宜？

Nǐ néng bùnéng gěi wǒ piányi?

IS HE CHINESE?

他是不是中国人？

<Tā shì-bu-shi Zhōngguórén?>

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHARGE A BATTERY HERE?

这里可不可以充电？

Zhèli kě bù kěyǐ chōngdiàn?

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

EXAMPLES

WHO'S CLOTHES IS THIS?

这是谁的衣服？

Zhè shì shéi de yīfu?

WHAT MEAT WILL YOU EAT?

你要什么肉？

Nǐ yào chī shénme ròu?

WHAT BEER DO YOU HAVE?

你有什么啤酒？

Nǐ yǒu shénme píjiǔ?