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Lesson

Isn't It...? (不是…吗)

1. Explain it simply

Put 不是 right before the predicate and 吗 at the very end of the sentence.

It is not a real yes-or-no question; it nudges the listener to agree with something you both know.

你不是老师吗?really means 'You are a teacher, right?' rather than genuinely asking.

2. Show examples

你不是老师吗?

Nǐ bù shì lǎoshī ma?

Sandhi:Nǐ bú shì lǎoshī ma?

Aren't you a teacher?

confirming a fact

不是说今天下雪吗?

Bù shì shuō jīntiān xià xuě ma?

Sandhi:Bú shì shuō jīntiān xià xuě ma?

Didn't they say it would snow today?

不是说 = didn't they say

她不是你姐姐吗?

Tā bù shì nǐ jiějie ma?

Sandhi:Tā bú shì nǐ jiějie ma?

Isn't she your older sister?

mild surprise

你不是喜欢喝茶吗?

Nǐ bù shì xǐhuan hē chá ma?

Sandhi:Nǐ bú shì xǐhuan hē chá ma?

Don't you like drinking tea?

不是 before a verb phrase

3. Share a tip

Keep 不是 as one block in front of the predicate and always end with 吗 - if you split them or move 吗 into the middle, the sentence breaks.

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