haru Korean › Grammar › Level 1B › A/V-지요? · N(이)지요?
A/V-지요? · N(이)지요? — checking — '…, right?'
Checking — '…, right?'. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1B, lesson 2: 여보세요, 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? (Hello? What are you doing now? — on the phone).
What it means
-지요? checks something you think is true and asks the other person to agree, like '…, right?' or 'isn't it?' in English. 휴대폰이에요? simply asks; 휴대폰이지요? means 'it's your phone — am I right?'. Add 지요 to the stem of any verb or adjective, with or without 받침: 바쁘지요?, 먹지요?, 있지요? After a noun, use 이지요 after 받침 and 지요 after a vowel: 휴대폰이지요?, 친구지요? For the past, 지요 goes after -았/었-: 갔지요?, 먹었지요? Answer as you would any yes-or-no question, without 지요: 네, 바빠요. In speech, 지요 is often shortened to 죠: 바쁘죠?
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A/V-지요? | verbs and adjectives — with or without 받침 | 바쁘다 → 바쁘지요? |
| N이지요? | noun with 받침 | 휴대폰 → 휴대폰이지요? |
| N지요? | noun without 받침 | 친구 → 친구지요? |
| -았/었지요? | the past | 가다 → 갔지요? |
Key points
- A/V-지요? — add 지요 to any stem, with or without 받침: 바쁘지요? · 먹지요? · 갔지요?
- N(이)지요? — 이지요 after 받침, 지요 after a vowel: 휴대폰이지요? · 친구지요?
Examples
- 바쁘다 → 바쁘지요? 먹다 → 먹지요? 있다 → 있지요?
- 휴대폰 → 휴대폰이지요? 친구 → 친구지요?
- 요즘 바쁘지요? — 네, 바빠요.
- 거기 유나 씨 댁이지요? — 네, 유나 씨 댁이에요.
- 어제 학교에 갔지요? — 네, 갔어요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1B, lesson 12; Yonsei University Korean 1-2, lesson 15; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-2, lesson 13; Hongik University Korean 1B, lesson 8; Hanyang University Korean 1-2, lesson 8; Hanyang University Korean 2-2, lesson 10.