The 是 shi ... 的 de construction

We have learned that the 是...的 shì... de construction is used to emphasis stative verbs, for

example, 这条裙子是新的 zhè tiáo qúnzi shì xīn de this skirt is new. In this session I

would like to introduce the other two usages of the 是...的 shì ... de construction.

1. 是...的 shì... de is used for emphasis in the past of time when and the way something is

done. For example, when you want to tell someone that it was last May that you went to

China by train, the 是...的 shì... de construction should be used as demonstrated below.

我 是 去 年 五 月 坐 火 车 去 中

国

的。

wǒ shì qùnián wǔyuè zuò huǒchē qù Zhōngguó de

As you may have noticed, 是 shì and 的 de are used like a “frame” that includes the time, the

method, the action and the place. If the object of a sentence has no description or has no any

other subordination, like the one above, 的 de can be placed after the verb to emphasize the

place. In other words, the sentence above could look like this

我 是 去 年

五 月

坐 火 车

去 的 中

国。

wǒ shì qùnián wǔyuè zuò huǒchē qù de Zhōngguó

2. 是...的 shì... de can also be used to emphasise the agent of a sentence. For instance:

这 件 事 是 我 作 的。

zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ zuò de

It was me who did this.

101Elementary Chinese Grammar 基础汉语语法

2011

这 本 书 是 鲁 迅 写 的。

zhèběn shū shì Lǔxùn xiě de

It was Luxun who wrote that book. / That book was written by Luxun.

When translating a passive English sentence into Chinese, it is important to identify the

emphasis of the sentence first. If the emphasis is on the agent, then the 是...的 shì... de

construction should be applied. On the other hand, if the emphasis is on the outcome of an

action, but not on the agent, then the 被 bèi construction or notional passive construction

should be applied. For example

桌

子 上

的 菜 是 我 吃 的。

zhuōzi shàng de cài shì wǒ chī de.

It was me who ate the food on the table.

桌

子 上

的 菜 (被 我) 吃 完 了。

zhuōzi shàng de cài (bèi wǒ) chī wán le.

The food that was on the table has been eaten (by me).