"Is that your wife?"

Translation: 那是不是你的妻子？

[DriesBrons]

那是你的妻子吗？would be a better translation; Is that your wife?

You use "是不是" to ask a question, when you already assume an answer.

So for example:
那是不是你的妻子？; Isn't that your wife?
你是不是要茶? ; Don't you want tea?
ect..

[norakmalhakim]

Why no ma?

[MindN.]

Shi4 bu2shi4 is already indicated that it is a question.

[OhLordAmen]

When you ask a shi bu shi, x bu x, that is the questions, so ma is not needed.

[Lomochibi]

Because 是不是 already makes it a question.

[BiJouliana]

Why this app doesn't provide the pinyin system? It would be useful for vocabulary and pronunciation...

[awunker]

You can use this with a pinyin input method: just set up Chinese input in your computer settings.

[khashishi]

Is 的 mandatory here? I put 那是不是你妻子

[Naasei]

That indicates possession, so yes

[LazyEinstein]

It does indicate possession. However, when expressing close possession, it appears 的 may be omitted.

[awunker]

为什么“那个是你的妻子吗”不对吗？

[_LolZ_]

我不知道。。。

[StephanieB87596]

This is not a good translation. Should be asking : isn't that your wife? Since it's got a negative in the wording of the question

[Radin539985]

Wrong. "Isn't that your wife" would 那不是你的妻子吗?
是不是 is just a different way to ask a regular question which just deosn't require a 吗.

[SamuelPort7]

What about "这个是你的妻子吗？“ Does that work?

[bill949306]

Yes! So much for using Ma when asking a yes or no question.

[buenotc]

和 那是你的妻子？

[Gabrielle145359]

That way you would need 吗 .

[benschenkel]

Necessary to have na at the beginning?

[Gabrielle145359]

Yes, I believe so.

[janis.w]

Is there a way to let duolingo know that 的 is not used with close family/spouse?

[JulianJare2]

I know the point of that lecture is probably to also get the 是不是 thing across, but wouldn't 这是你的妻子吗 also be a correct solution?

[Giraffe133729]

Yes you can ask it that way. Except here the question is asking "that" (那 = nà), not "this" :)