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

Do you want beer?

你要啤酒吗？

<Nǐ yào píjiǔ ma?>

Is it possible to change money here?

这里可以换钱吗？

Zhèli kěyǐ huàn qián ma?

BANK/EXCHANGE

Have you received (it)?

你收到了吗？

Nǐ shōudào le ma?

Are you fine?

你好吗？

<Nǐ hǎo 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

Is it possible to charge a battery here?

这里可不可以充电？

Zhèli kě bù kěyǐ chōngdiàn?

Is he Chinese?

他是不是中国人？

<Tā shì-bu-shi Zhōngguórén?>

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.

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

EXAMPLES

What beer do you want?

你要什么啤酒？

<Nǐ yào shénme píjiǔ?>

Who's clothes is this?

这是谁的衣服？

Zhè shì shéi de yīfu?

WHO?

Who will pick the dishes?

谁来点菜？

Shéi lái diǎn cài?

SMALL TALK