As well as [yes/no questions](Yes-no_questions_with_"ma" "wikilink"),
you can also form tag questions with 吗 (ma). Tag questions are quick
questions that are tagged on the end of a sentence to ask for
confirmation. In English, this is often done with "right?" or negatively
with "isn't it?"

The easiest way to do this in Chinese is to add some kind of
confirmation word and 吗 (ma) on the end of the sentence.

Structure
---------

As you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好
(hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma).

<div class="jiegou">
⋯⋯， 好 / 对 / 是 / 可以 + 吗？

</div>
By placing these on the end of a sentence, you can soften a suggestion
or request confirmation.

Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   这样 做，<em>对 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zuò, <em>duì
    ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do it like this, right?</span>
-   你们 见 过，<em>对 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiàn guo,
    <em>duì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You’ve met, right?</span>
-   他们 昨天 都 没 去， <em>是 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Tāmen
    zuótiān dōu méi qù, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">They
    didn't go yesterday, right?</span>
-   你 没 来 过， <em>是 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ méi lái guo,
    <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You haven't been here,
    right?</span>
-   你 喜欢 我妹妹， <em>是 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ
    mèimei, <em>shì ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">You like my
    younger sister, huh?</span>
-   我们 去 你 家 ， <em>好 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù nǐ
    jiā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Let's go to your
    place, OK?</span>
-   不要 告诉 他 ， <em>好 吗</em> ？ <span class="pinyin"> Bùyào gàosu
    tā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Don't tell him,
    OK?</span>
-   今天 我们 都 不 喝酒， <em>好 吗</em> ？
    <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒmen dōu bù hējiǔ​, <em>hǎo
    ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Let's all not drink alcohol
    today, OK?</span>
-   我 现在 想 去 洗手间， <em>可以 吗</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, <em>kěyǐ
    ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the bathroom now.
    Is that OK?</span>
-   妈妈，我 要 吃 巧克力 ， <em>可以 吗</em> ？
    <span class="pinyin">Māma, wǒ yào chī qiǎokèlì, <em>kěyǐ
    ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Mom, I want to eat chocolate. May
    I?</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Yes-no questions with "ma"](Yes-no_questions_with_"ma" "wikilink")
-   [Tag questions with "bu"](Tag_questions_with_"bu" "wikilink")
-   [Questions with "ne"](Questions_with_"ne" "wikilink")

Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------

-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    144-145)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (p.
    218)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    106)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")