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

Are you ready?

你准备好了吗？

Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?

BASIC ACT

Is it possible to change money here?

这里可以换钱吗？

Zhèli kěyǐ huàn qián ma?

EXCHANGE

Is this yours?

这个是你的吗？

<Zhège shì nǐde ma?>

Is everything right?

一切顺利吗？

Yīqiè shùnlì 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

Do you have Chinese friends?

你有没有中国朋友？

<Nǐ yǒu-mei-you Zhōngguó péngyǒu?>

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 it possible to charge a battery here?

这里可不可以充电？

Zhèli kě bù kěyǐ chōngdiàn?

电 ELECTRIC

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

EXAMPLES

Who is your teacher?

你的老师是谁？

Nǐ de lǎoshī shì shéi?

谁 / WHO?

Who will pick the dishes?

谁来点菜？

Shéi lái diǎn cài?

SMALL TALK 点 POINT

What do you want?

你要什么？

<Nǐ yào shénme?>