Statement + 吗 (yes/no confirmation)
IntroducedAsk without deciding the answer beforehand
- You ask a friend whether they are full after lunch.
- you你full吃饱(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗？ — (yes/no ?)吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question.
You ask a friend whether they are full after lunch. What does 你吃饱了吗？ communicate?
吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question. The question need not imply a particular expected answer. A direct alternative question such as 喝茶还是咖啡 uses a different form.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Statement + (yes/no ?)吗 (yes/no confirmation). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
you你full吃饱了吗？
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Are you full? 你吃饱了 ____?
Statement + 吗? makes a yes/no question: 你吃饱了吗?
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, you你full吃饱(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗？: (yes/no ?)吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What answer type does 你吃饱了吗 ask for?
吗 forms a yes/no question. A particular speaker expectation is not required.
Know the boundary
- The question need not imply a particular expected answer.
- A direct alternative question such as to drink tea喝茶or / still还是coffee (loanword)咖啡 uses a different form.
Adding 吗 keeps the word order of the statement unchanged.
Yes — just append 吗; no reordering: 你吃饱了 → 你吃饱了吗?
In the opening situation: 吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question.
The question need not imply a particular expected answer. A direct alternative question such as 喝茶还是咖啡 uses a different form. 吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question.
Use the distinction
- (yes/no ?)吗 turns the statement about being full into a yes/no question.
- The question need not imply a particular expected answer. A direct alternative question such as to drink tea喝茶or / still还是coffee (loanword)咖啡 uses a different form.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Particles.
You ask a friend whether they are full after lunch. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.