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"是" alone as a response


MaLaTang

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I know that 是 cannot be used to answer questions where 是 isnt the main verb ...consider the following example..

你认识不认识他? acceptable response= 认识or 不认识

你是不是中国人? acceptable response= 是 or 不是

I have however, watched many mainland chinese television programs where the leader of a palace would order his or her subordinates to do something ,,for example...打扫房间! and here the response is '是‘。 so, even though it isnt a response to a question, i guess it can still be used. the same thing with 不。

so, in spoken language, or in a written dialog, if person A tells person B to...for example..给我钱!。。。

CAN person B respond with '是’ or ‘不’???

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here the response is '是‘。 so, even though it isnt a response to a question, i guess it can still be used

Not really, it's only used like that by those obeying a command (which tends to happen in guzhuang shows and military settings). Think "遵命!" I wouldn't expect modern employees to say it to their boss.

so, in spoken language, or in a written dialog, if person A tells person B to...for example..给我钱!。。。

CAN person B respond with '是’ or ‘不’???

Neither. If person B said '是', he'd be implying he was subordinate to/serving person A. As xiaocai said, he could say '好(的)' to mean "I agree to do it."

If he wanted to disagree, he would probably say '不给' or '不要'.

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thanks and...yes, the only setting where i came across this was in 古装 programs. In spoken language, ive most often heard 好!as a response to a command.

'OK‘ and 'OK le' are also very common and i especially heard that response when i told the 出租车 司l my destination. But now im wondering why '了’ is added to the OK? why is 了used after OK in this response?

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