Questions with 是不是
用"是不是"提问
Use 是不是 in three different positions to form confirmation questions
是不是 can appear at the end, beginning, or middle of a sentence. All three positions form a yes-no question seeking confirmation, but they differ in emphasis and tone.
End position (……是不是？) is the most casual and conversational. Beginning position (是不是……？) emphasizes the question. Middle position (……是不是……？) is the most neutral and common.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Questions with 是不是 (用"是不是"提问)
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Understanding 用"是不是"提问
You already know the A-不-A pattern from HSK 1 (去不去, 好不好). Now 是不是 takes this to the next level — it turns any statement into a confirmation question, like "Is it the case that...?" or "...right?" The magic of 是不是 is its flexibility: it can go at the end, beginning, or middle of the sentence. At the end (你要去打球，是不是？), it is like English "...right?" — casual, seeking confirmation. At the beginning (是不是你拿了我的笔？), it leads with the question — slightly more formal or pointed. In the middle (你是不是有很多中国朋友？), it is the most balanced and common position. All three mean the same thing, but the feeling is different. This flexibility makes 是不是 one of the most versatile question tools in Chinese.
Key Points
- End position: 你要去体育馆打球，是不是？ = "...right?" — casual tag.
- Beginning position: 是不是你拿了我的笔？ = "Is it that you took my pen?" — more direct.
- Middle position: 你是不是有很多中国朋友？ = "Do you have many Chinese friends?" — neutral.
- All three positions create the same basic yes-no confirmation question.
- Answer: 是/是的 (yes) or 不是 (no).
- 是不是 is softer than a direct question — it suggests you already think the answer might be yes.
- Very common in spoken Chinese for making polite guesses about someone.
Chinese speakers often use 是不是 to soften what might otherwise feel like an accusation. Instead of "You took my pen!" (你拿了我的笔！), saying 是不是你拿了我的笔？sounds much more tactful.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
你要去体育馆打球，是不是？
You are going to the gym to play ball, right?
End position — casual tag
是不是你拿了我的笔？
Was it you who took my pen?
Beginning position — more direct
你是不是有很多中国朋友？
Do you have many Chinese friends?
Middle position — neutral
他是不是你的同学？
Is he your classmate?
你昨天没来上课，是不是？
You did not come to class yesterday, right?
是不是明天有考试？
Is there an exam tomorrow?
你是不是不舒服？
Are you feeling unwell?
A caring, concerned question
这本书是不是你的？
Is this book yours?
Common Mistakes
When answering 是不是, 不是 means "no, that is not the case." Always clarify with the actual situation.
Do not combine 是不是 with another A-不-A pattern. One question structure is enough.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
End position (……是不是？) is the easiest to use — just add it to any statement to make it a question.
If you think something is probably true and want to confirm, 是不是 is perfect.
Practice by turning statements into 是不是 questions in all three positions.
In casual speech, 是不是 at the end often gets shortened to 是吧？ or 对吧？
Homework
Write six 是不是 questions — two in each position (end, beginning, middle). Then write the answers using 是/是的 or 不是 + clarification.