Particles
- 吗 [ma]
This is an interrogative particle and may be put at the end of a declarative sentence to make it into an interrogative one. This basically means that you make a statement into a yes/no question.
Examples
你身体好吗？
Nǐ shēntǐ hǎo ma?
你哥哥工作了吗？
Nǐ gēgē gōngzuò le ma?
你妈妈是大学老师吗？
Nǐ māmā shì dàxué lǎoshī ma?
- 呢 [ne]
This particle may be used in two ways.
a. It may be used to ask about ‘where’, ‘how’, etc. by adding it to a noun, a pronoun, etc.
Examples
你弟弟，妹妹呢？
Nǐ dìdì, mèimei ne?
- 你们都在家里。
Nǐmen dōu zài jiā lǐ.
你身体好吗？
Nǐ shēntǐ hǎo ma?
- 好，谢谢。你呢？
Hǎo, xièxiè. Nǐ ne?
b. When added to the end of a declarative sentence, the modal particle 呢 functions to point out a fact and make people sure of it.
Examples
我姐姐还没工作呢。
Wǒ jiějiě hái méi gōngzuò ne.
我哥哥工作了，他还是老师呢。
Wǒ gēgē gōngzuò le, tā háishì lǎoshī ne.
- 吧 [ba]
This particle also has more uses.
a. It can make commands, requests and suggestions less direct. It can make a pushy question more neutral.
Example
快点吧。
Kuài diǎn ba.
Hurry up.
b. It can also expresses a tone of consultation, as in an ‘isn’t it?’
Example
十二点了，我们休息吧。
Shí’èr diǎnle, wǒmen xiūxí ba.
It’s 12, we should rest, (shouldn’t we?)
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