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 it?

是吗？

Shì ma?

Are you ready?

你准备好了吗？

Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?

BASIC ACT

Is the teacher in the classroom yet?

老师已经在教室吗？

Lǎoshī yǐjīng zài jiàoshì ma?

WORDS 经 TO BE / 在

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.

Do you have a coke?

你有没有可乐？

Nǐ yǒumeiyou kělè?

Is he Chinese?

他是不是中国人？

<Tā shì-bu-shi Zhōngguórén?>

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's clothes is this?

这是谁的衣服？

Zhè shì shéi de yīfu?

谁 / WHO?

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

你要喝什么啤酒？

<Nǐ yào hē shénme píjiǔ?>