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 he in China?

他在中国吗？

Tā zài Zhōngguó ma?

Have you received (it)?

你收到了吗？

Nǐ shōudào le ma?

Is this yours?

这个是你的吗？

<Zhège shì nǐde 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?>

Is he Chinese?

他是不是中国人？

<Tā shì-bu-shi Zhōngguórén?>

Do you have friends in China?

你在中国有没有朋友？

Nǐ zài Zhōngguó yǒumeiyou péngyǒu?

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

EXAMPLES

Who are you looking for?

你找谁？

<Nǐ zhǎo shéi?>

谁 / WHO? BASIC ACT

Who wants this?

谁要这个？

Shéi yào zhège?

Who will pick the dishes?

谁来点菜？

Shéi lái diǎn cài?

SMALL TALK 点 POINT