<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>The 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) construction is used to draw particular attention to certain information in a sentence. It's often used to ask questions that seek specific information, or to explain a situation by emphasizing a particular detail.</p> <p>While not strictly tied to any "tense," the 是⋯⋯ 的 construction is frequently used when asking details about the past or telling details about the past.</p> <h2 id="basic-usage">Basic Usage</h2> <p>A 是 ⋯⋯ 的 sentence is formed with this structure:</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 是 + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + 的</p> </div> <p>This structure can be used to emphasize any detail, but most commonly it emphasizes <strong>time</strong>, <strong>manner</strong>, or <strong>place</strong>. Don't worry if this still seems a little confusing; lots of helpful examples are coming up!</p> <h3 id="singling-out-details-for-emphasis">Singling out Details for Emphasis</h3> <p>A 是⋯⋯ 的 construction can pick out any detail in a sentence. Whatever comes immediately after 是 is emphasized. So in the sentence below:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 在 饭店 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén zài fàndiàn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I ate with my family in a restaurant last Saturday.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>We can pick out any one of the details by putting 是 in front of it:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 跟 我 家人 <em>是</em> <strong>上 周六</strong> 在 饭店 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"last Saturday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn wǒ jiārén <em>shì</em> <strong>shàng Zhōuliù</strong> zài fàndiàn chī <em>de</em> fàn.</span></li> <li>我 上 周六 在 饭店 <em>是</em> <strong>跟 我 家人</strong> 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"with my family" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn <em>shì</em> <strong>gēn wǒ jiārén</strong> chī <em>de</em> fàn.</span></li> <li>我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 <em>是</em> <strong>在 饭店</strong> 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"in a restaurant" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén <em>shì</em> <strong>zài fàndiàn</strong> chī <em>de</em> fàn.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h3 id="more-simple-examples">More Simple Examples</h3> <p>These are some of the most common questions asked using the 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction and some possible answers:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你们 <em>是</em> 什么时候 来 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "when"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>shì</em> shénme shíhou lái <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">When did you come?</span></li> <li>我们 <em>是</em> <strong>昨天</strong> 来 <em>的</em>。<span class= "expl">"Yesterday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We came yesterday.</span></li> </ul> </div> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 <em>是</em> 怎么 来 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "how" or "in what manner"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> zěnme lái <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How did you come?</span></li> <li>我 <em>是</em> <strong>坐 飞机</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 。<span class= "expl">Emphasizing "by plane"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zuò fēijī</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I came by plane.</span></li> </ul> </div> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li><em>是</em> 谁 告诉 你 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "who"</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Shì</em> shéi gàosu nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who was it that told you?</span></li> <li><em>是</em> <strong>一 个 同事</strong> 告诉 我 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "a colleague"</span><span class= "pinyin"><em>Shì</em> <strong>yī gè tóngshì</strong> gàosu wǒ<em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">It was a colleague that told me.</span></li> </ul> </div> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 <em>是</em> <strong>在 哪儿</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> ？<span class= "expl">"Where" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where were you born?</span></li> <li>我 <em>是</em> <strong>在 中国</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> 。<span class= "expl">"In China" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài Zhōngguó</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I was born in China.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>You might be wondering, "can I still say the same thing without the 是 and the 的?" The answer is that in most cases, <em>no, not really</em>. While the 是 can sometimes be dropped, these examples sound weird without the 的. It's just a part of learning to ask questions naturally in Mandarin. You don't have to learn a "past tense," but you do have to learn this way of asking for details about the past, sooner or later.</p> <h2 id="when-to-use-是-的">When to Use 是⋯⋯ 的</h2> <p>As described above, the 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction is used to draw attention to particular information in a sentence. Whereas a sentence without a 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction might <em>describe</em> a situation, a sentence with a 是⋯⋯ 的 construction <em>explains</em> it. 是 ⋯⋯ 的 is not generally used for reporting new information, but for adding important details that make the information clearer.</p> <p>You could think of 是 ⋯⋯ 的 as being equivalent to saying one of the following in English:</p> <ul> <li>"The situation is that"</li> <li>"It's that... "</li> <li>"It was... that... "</li> </ul> <p>If the sentence could be formed with one of those phrases in English, it can probably use a 是⋯⋯ 的 construction in Chinese. Usually the topic of a 是⋯⋯ 的 sentence has already been established.</p> <h3 id="completed-action">Completed Action</h3> <p>It's important to note that a 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction also indicates that an action has been completed. However, this is not the purpose of a 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction. The association with a completed action is more like a <em>side effect</em> of 是 ⋯⋯ 的. This means you shouldn't use 是 ⋯⋯ 的 just to indicate that an action is completed. Use the <a href="aspect_particle_%E4%BA%86" title="wikilink">aspect particle 了</a> for that. Instead, use 是 ⋯⋯ 的 to draw attention to particular features of the action.</p> <h2 id="negating-是-的">Negating 是 ⋯⋯ 的</h2> <p>是 ⋯⋯ 的 sentences can only be negated with 不, as 没 can not be used to negate 是. Place 不 before 是 as you would in a standard sentence.</p> <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我们 <em>不</em> 是 坐 火车 来 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> shì zuò huǒchē lái de.</span><span class="trans">We didn't come by train.</span></li> <li>这个 电话 <em>不</em> 是 打给他的 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège diànhuà <em>bù</em> shì dǎ gěi tā de.</span><span class="trans">This phone call isn't to him.</span></li> <li>我们 <em>不</em> 是 去 看她 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> shì qù kàn tā de.</span><span class="trans">We didn't go to see her.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Note that negating a 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction creates the implication that the action in the sentence <em>was</em> carried out, and only the detail emphasized by 是 ⋯⋯ 的 is being denied. So, in the last sentence, the implication is that 你 didn't go out with 她, but <em>did</em> go out with <em>someone</em>. So negative 是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions would work nicely in the final scenes of detective dramas.</p> <h2 id="used-in-a-questions">Used in a Questions</h2> <p>是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions can be made into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Chinese:</p> <ul> <li>With a <a href="Interrogative_Sentences#Question_particles" title="wikilink">question particle</a></li> <li>With a <a href= "Word_order#Using_question_words_in_a_Chinese_sentence" title= "wikilink">question word</a></li> <li>Within <a href="affirmative-negative_questions" title= "wikilink">affirmative-negative questions</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>他 是 用 左 手 写 的 <em>吗</em> ？<span class="trans">Did he write this with his left hand?</span></li> <li>你 是 跟 <em>谁</em> 出去 的？<span class="trans">Who did you go out with?</span></li> <li>你 是 <em>怎么</em> 来 北京 的？<span class="trans">How did you come to Beijing?</span></li> <li>你们 <em>是 不 是</em> 去年 认识 的？<span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span></li> <li>你 的 车 是 <em>在 哪儿</em> 买 的？<span class="trans">Where did you buy your car?</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Although this structure is called the 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction, the 是 is nearly always optional. You will often hear this structure with 是 omitted, so be aware. The only time 是 is required in this construction is when it's being negated. Other than that, 是 is commonly omitted.</p> <h2 id="the-optional-是">the Optional 是</h2> <p>A few examples:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 坐 地铁 来 <em>的</em> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò dìtiě lái <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you come by metro?</span></li> <li>我们 两 个 月 以前 认识 <em>的</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liǎng gè yuè yǐqián rènshi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We met two months ago.</span></li> <li>我 跟 我 男朋友 一起 去 <em>的</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn wǒ nánpéngyou yīqǐ qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went there with my boyfriend.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="where-to-put-的-when-theres-an-object">Where to Put 的 When there's an Object</h2> <p>Up till now we've said that 的 appears at the end of the sentence in a 是⋯⋯ 的 construction. This is very often the case. However, if there's an object, 的 can appear before the object.</p> <p>For example:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>是</em> 在 加拿大 学 <em>的</em> <strong>英语</strong>。<span class="expl">the 的 comes before the object 英语</span><span class="trans">I studied English in Canada.</span></li> <li>我 <em>是</em> 在 加拿大 学 <strong>英语</strong> <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">the 的 comes after the object 英语</span><span class="trans">I studied English in Canada.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Note that if the object is a person, 的 has to go at the end of the sentence. Otherwise it can go before the object or at the end of the sentence.</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>是</em> 在 法国 认识 <em>的</em> <strong>她</strong>。<span class= "expl">the 的 cannot come before the object 她</span><span class= "trans">I met her in France.</span></li> <li>我 <em>是</em> 在 法国 认识 <strong>她</strong> <em>的</em>。<span class= "expl">the 的 can only come after the object 她</span><span class= "trans">I met her in France.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="more-useful-examples">More Useful Examples</h2> <p>The 是⋯⋯ 的 construction is very versatile and can be used to pick out a large variety of details in a sentence. Have a look at the examples below to get a stronger grasp of how this structure can be used.</p> <p>Focusing on Manner:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>是</em> <strong>开车</strong> 回家 <em>的</em>。<span class= "expl">"by car" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">I came home by car.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Focusing on Instrument:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>是</em> <strong>用 法文</strong> 写 <em>的</em> 信 。<span class= "expl">"used French" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">I used French to write the letter.</span></li> <li>她 <em>是</em> <strong>用 邮件</strong> 回复 我们 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"used the email" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">She used email to reply to us.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Focusing on Agent:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 的 钱包 <em>是</em> <strong>被 一个男人</strong> 偷走 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"by a man" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">My wallet was stolen by a man.</span></li> <li>弟弟 <em>是</em> <strong>被 同学</strong> 打伤 <em>的</em>。<span class= "expl">"by his classmate" is emphasized.</span><span class= "trans">My younger brother was hit and got injured by his classmates.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Focusing on Target:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 <em>是</em> <strong>给 谁</strong> 做 <em>的</em> 饭 ？<span class= "expl">"for whom" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">Who did you make food for?</span></li> <li>他 <em>是</em> <strong>向 你</strong> 借 <em>的</em> 钱？<span class= "expl">"from you" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">He borrowed the money from you?</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="%E7%9A%84_(modal_particle)" title="wikilink">的 (modal particle)</a></li> <li><a href="Adding_emphasis_with_"jiushi"" title= "wikilink">Adding emphasis with "jiushi"</a></li> <li><a href="Uses_of_"shi_%E2%8B%AF%E2%8B%AF_de"" title= "wikilink">Uses of "shi ⋯⋯ de"</a></li> <li><a href="Bei_sentence" title="wikilink">被 sentence</a>''</li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and Further Reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar" title= "wikilink">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar</a> (pp. 54-5) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition" title= "wikilink">Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition</a> (pp. 46-7, 173-80) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)" title="wikilink">Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)</a> (pp. 319-22) <a href= "http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "Contemporary_Chinese_2_(%E5%BD%93%E4%BB%A3%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%872)" title="wikilink">Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2)</a> (pp. 46) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7800529029/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7800529029"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)</a> (pp. 119-121) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1</a> (pp. 14-6) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (pp. 152-4) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar" title="wikilink">Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar</a> (pp. 587-94) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide" title="wikilink">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide</a> (pp. 233-5) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)</a> (pp. 88-9, 153) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)</a> (pp. 204-5) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "Short-term_Spoken_Chinese:_Threshold_Vol._2_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%8F%A3%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%A5%E9%97%A8%E7%AF%87%E4%B8%8B)" title="wikilink">Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (汉语口语入门篇下)</a> (pp. 66-8) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913656/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913656"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8B%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89" title="wikilink">40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）</a> (p. 530)<a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20">→buy</a></li> <li><a href= "40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8A%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89" title="wikilink">40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）</a> (p. 205)<a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20">→buy</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3> <ul> <li>University website: [<a href= "http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Grammar%20database/grammar_database1.htm#The%20shi%20">http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Grammar%20database/grammar_database1.htm#The%20shi%20</a>⋯⋯ %20de%20%20construction The shi... de construction]</li> <li>East Asia Student: <a href= "http://eastasiastudent.net/2713/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/shi-de-construction/"> The 是 … 的 construction in Mandarin</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:Structures" class="uri" title= "wikilink">Category:Structures</a></p> </body> </html>