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3.4.3: Tag questions with "bu"

  • Page ID
    44170
    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    In the same way you can tag questions with 吗 (ma), tag questions can also be formed using 不 (bù). This is done by putting an affirmative-negative question at the end of a sentence.

    Structure

    Verb + 不 + Verb

    This can then be attached to the end of a sentence to form a tag question. Tag questions seek confirmation or acceptance of what has been said. In English, "right?" and "OK?" are often used as tag questions.

    Examples

    • 你 会 说 中文 , 对 不 对 ?Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén, duì bu duì?You speak Chinese, right?
    • 他 是 你 的 老板 , 对 不 对 ?Tā shì nǐ de lǎobǎn, duì bu duì?He's your boss, right?
    • 我们 是 好 朋友 , 对 不 对 ?Wǒmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì bu duì?We are good friends, right?
    • 你 昨天 没 回家, 对 不 对 ?Nǐ zuótiān méi huíjiā, duì bu duì?You didn't come back home yesterday, right?
    • 你 有 新 女朋友 了 , 是 不 是 ?Nǐ yǒu xīn nǚpéngyou le, shì bu shì?You have a new girlfriend, right?
    • 九 点 开会 , 是 不 是 ?Jiǔ diǎn kāihuì, shì bu shì?We are going to hold a meeting at 9, right?
    • 你 姓 王 , 是 不 是 ?Nǐ xìng Wáng, shì bu shì?Your last name is Wang, is it not?
    • 我们 回家 吧 , 好 不 好 ?Wǒmen huíjiā ba, hǎo bu hǎo?Let's go home, OK?
    • 周末 去 看 电影, 好 不 好 ?Zhōumò qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo bu hǎo?Let's go to a movie this weekend, OK?
    • 你们 明天 来, 好 不 好 ?Nǐmen míngtiān lái, hǎo bu hǎo?You come here tomorrow, OK?

    This page titled 3.4.3: Tag questions with "bu" is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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