Using the particle  (ma) is not the only way to create a question. Two other common formats involve interrogatives (who, what, where, why, when, and how) and the "verb-not-verb" construction.

Interrogatives
Following are examples of some common interrogatives.

The "Verb-not-Verb" Construction
In this format, a verb is followed by  (b? or  (m?/SPAN>i)--which mean no, not, or don't--and then the verb is repeated. These examples will show you how the construction works.

Note 
Here's come those tone shifts again. Normally,  (b? is pronounced in the fourth tone, but before another instance of the fourth tone, it shifts to the second.

Be aware too that in some cases,  (y?u) is better translated as "are." Other times, "are" will be better translated as  (sh?.

I'll let your Chinese teachers explain the difference to you. I don't want to do all their work for them.
 
 
 

G'day, Eh?
When  is added as a tag to the end of an already completed sentence, it functions much as the English "right?" or "isn't it?" - and perhaps the Canadian "eh?" Seriously. I'm not joking.... All right, all right, maybe it's just a little joke.

  can be tagged to a sentence which contains any other verb in the main clause.

Note 
Well, we'd better stop here before this becomes more than just a brief look at grammar, even though there are many other interesting lessons on Chinese we haven't covered yet. These should be enough to get you started, though.

Have a great time learning Chinese, and thanks for visiting China－Fun !