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

I have bought two, do you want one?

我买了两个，你要一个吗？

Wǒ mǎile liǎng gè, nǐ yào yīge ma?

Have you received (it)?

你收到了吗？

Nǐ shōudào le ma?

Do you need anything more?

你们还需要别的东西吗？

Nǐmen hái xūyào bié de dōngxi ma?

Are you coming as well?

你也要来吗？

Nǐ yě yào lái ma?

TO COME

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?

Could you give it to me a bit cheaper?

你能不能给我便宜？

Nǐ néng bùnéng gěi wǒ piányi?

EXPENSIVE - CHEAP

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 have?

你有什么啤酒？

Nǐ yǒu shénme píjiǔ?

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

你要喝什么啤酒？

<Nǐ yào hē shénme píjiǔ?>

Who are you looking for?

你找谁？

<Nǐ zhǎo shéi?>

谁 / WHO? BASIC ACT