{{Grammar Box}} {{AKA|是⋯⋯的结构 (shì... de jiégòu)|是⋯⋯ 的 sentence|是⋯⋯ 的 pattern}} 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. 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. == Basic Usage == A 是 ⋯⋯ 的 sentence is formed with this structure:
Subj. + 是 + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + 的
This structure can be used to emphasize any detail, but most commonly it emphasizes '''time''', '''manner''', or '''place'''. Don't worry if this still seems a little confusing; lots of helpful examples are coming up! === Singling out Details for Emphasis === A 是⋯⋯ 的 construction can pick out any detail in a sentence. Whatever comes immediately after 是 is emphasized. So in the sentence below:
*我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 在 饭店 吃饭 。 Wǒ shàng zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén zài fàndiàn chīfàn.I ate with my family in a restaurant last Saturday.
We can pick out any one of the details by putting 是 in front of it:
*我 跟 我 家人 是 上 周六 在 饭店 吃 的 饭 。"last Saturday" is emphasized.Wǒ gēn wǒ jiārén shì shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn chī de fàn. *我 上 周六 在 饭店 是 跟 我 家人 吃 的 饭 。"with my family" is emphasized.Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn shì gēn wǒ jiārén chī de fàn. *我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 是 在 饭店 吃 的 饭 。"in a restaurant" is emphasized.Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén shì zài fàndiàn chī de fàn.
=== More Simple Examples === These are some of the most common questions asked using the 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction and some possible answers:
*你们 是 什么时候 来 的 ？Emphasizing "when"Nǐmen shì shénme shíhou lái de?When did you come? *我们 是 昨天 来 的。"Yesterday" is emphasized.Wǒmen shì zuótiān lái de.We came yesterday.
*你 是 怎么 来 的 ？Emphasizing "how" or "in what manner"Nǐ shì zěnme lái de?How did you come? *我 是 坐 飞机 来 的 。Emphasizing "by plane"Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.I came by plane.
*是 谁 告诉 你 的 ？Emphasizing "who"Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?Who was it that told you? *是 一 个 同事 告诉 我 的 。Emphasizing "a colleague"Shì yī gè tóngshì gàosu wǒde.It was a colleague that told me.
*你 是 在 哪儿 出生 的 ？"Where" is emphasized.Nǐ shì zài chūshēng de?Where were you born? *我 是 在 中国 出生 的 。"In China" is emphasized.Wǒ shì zài Zhōngguó chūshēng de.I was born in China.
You might be wondering, "can I still say the same thing without the 是 and the 的?" The answer is that in most cases, ''no, not really''. 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. == When to Use 是⋯⋯ 的 == 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 ''describe'' a situation, a sentence with a 是⋯⋯ 的 construction ''explains'' it. 是 ⋯⋯ 的 is not generally used for reporting new information, but for adding important details that make the information clearer. You could think of 是 ⋯⋯ 的 as being equivalent to saying one of the following in English: * "The situation is that" * "It's that... " * "It was... that... " 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. === Completed Action === 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 ''side effect'' of 是 ⋯⋯ 的. This means you shouldn't use 是 ⋯⋯ 的 just to indicate that an action is completed. Use the [[aspect particle 了]] for that. Instead, use 是 ⋯⋯ 的 to draw attention to particular features of the action. == Negating 是 ⋯⋯ 的 == 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. === Examples ===
*我们 不 是 坐 火车 来 的 。 Wǒmen bù shì zuò huǒchē lái de.We didn't come by train. *这个 电话 不 是 打给他的 。 Zhège diànhuà bù shì dǎ gěi tā de.This phone call isn't to him. *我们 不 是 去 看她 的 。 Wǒmen bù shì qù kàn tā de.We didn't go to see her.
Note that negating a 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction creates the implication that the action in the sentence ''was'' 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 ''did'' go out with ''someone''. So negative 是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions would work nicely in the final scenes of detective dramas. == Used in a Questions == 是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions can be made into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Chinese: * With a [[Interrogative Sentences#Question particles|question particle]] * With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]] * Within [[affirmative-negative questions]] === Examples ===
*他 是 用 左 手 写 的 吗 ？Did he write this with his left hand? *你 是 跟 谁 出去 的？Who did you go out with? *你 是 怎么 来 北京 的？How did you come to Beijing? *你们 是 不 是 去年 认识 的？Did you meet each other last year? *你 的 车 是 在 哪儿 买 的？Where did you buy your car?
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. == the Optional 是 == A few examples:
*你 坐 地铁 来 的 吗 ？Nǐ zuò dìtiě lái de ma?Did you come by metro? *我们 两 个 月 以前 认识 的。Wǒmen liǎng gè yuè yǐqián rènshi de.We met two months ago. *我 跟 我 男朋友 一起 去 的。Wǒ gēn wǒ nánpéngyou yīqǐ qù de.I went there with my boyfriend.
== Where to Put 的 When there's an Object == 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. For example:
*我 是 在 加拿大 学 的 英语。the 的 comes before the object 英语I studied English in Canada. *我 是 在 加拿大 学 英语 的。the 的 comes after the object 英语I studied English in Canada.
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.
== More Useful Examples == 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. Focusing on Manner:
*我 是 开车 回家 的。"by car" is emphasized.I came home by car.
Focusing on Instrument:
*我 是 用 法文 写 的 信 。"used French" is emphasized.I used French to write the letter. *她 是 用 邮件 回复 我们 的。"used the email" is emphasized.She used email to reply to us.
Focusing on Agent:
*我 的 钱包 是 被 一个男人 偷走 的。"by a man" is emphasized.My wallet was stolen by a man. *弟弟 是 被 同学 打伤 的。"by his classmate" is emphasized.My younger brother was hit and got injured by his classmates.
Focusing on Target:
*你 是 给 谁 做 的 饭 ？"for whom" is emphasized.Who did you make food for? *他 是 向 你 借 的 钱？"from you" is emphasized.He borrowed the money from you?
== See Also == *[[的 (modal particle)]] *[[Adding emphasis with "jiushi"]] *[[Uses of "shi ⋯⋯ de"]] *[[Bei sentence|被 sentence]]'' == Sources and Further Reading == === Books === {{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|577-9}} * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 54-5) [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] * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 46-7, 173-80) [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] * [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) ]] (pp. 319-22) [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] * [[Contemporary Chinese 2 (当代中文2)]] (pp. 46) [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] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 119-121) [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] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 14-6) [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] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 152-4) [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] * [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 587-94) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 233-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 88-9, 153) [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] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) ]] (pp. 204-5) [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] * [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (汉语口语入门篇下) ]] (pp. 66-8) [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] *[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (p. 530)[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] *[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 205)[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] === Websites === * University website: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Grammar%20database/grammar_database1.htm#The%20shi%20⋯⋯ %20de%20%20construction The shi... de construction] * East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2713/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/shi-de-construction/ The 是 … 的 construction in Mandarin] [[Category:Structures]] {{Similar|Adding Emphasis with "jiushi"}} {{Similar|的 (modal particle)}} {{Used for|Emphasizing}} {{Used for|Referring to the past}} {{Basic Grammar|是|B1|是⋯⋯ 的|你 是 哪里 来 的？/ 你 是 怎么 来 的？|grammar point|ASG8YTSF}} {{Rel char|的}} {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}