eric
/
ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
							123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250251252253254255256257258259260261262263264265266267268269270271272273274275276277278279280281282283284285286287288289290291292293294295296297298299300301302303304305306307308
							<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!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>
  <link href="../Styles/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
</head>

<body>
  <h1></h1>

  <p>The <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯的</span> (<span class="pinyin">shì... de</span>) 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 "<b>tense</b>," the <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> construction is frequently used when asking details about the past or telling details about the past.</p>

  <h2>Contents</h2>

  <ol>
    <li>Structure<br/></li>

    <li>Examples<br/></li>

    <li>See also<br/></li>

    <li>Sources and further reading<br/></li>

    <ol>
      <li>Books<br/></li>
    </ol>
  </ol>

  <h2 id="basic-usage">Basic Usage</h2>

  <p>A <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> sentence is formed with this structure:</p>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      Subj. + <span class="hanzist">是</span> + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">的</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  <p>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!</p>

  <h3 id="singling-out-details-for-emphasis">Singling out Details for Emphasis</h3>

  <p>A <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> construction can pick out any detail in a sentence. Whatever comes immediately after <span class="hanzi">是</span> is emphasized. So in the sentence below:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 在 饭店 吃饭 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén zài fàndiàn chīfàn.</span><br/><span> 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 <span class="hanzi">是</span> in front of it:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 跟 我 家人 是 上 周六 在 饭店 吃 的 饭 。</span> "last Saturday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ gēn wǒ jiārén shì shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn chī de fàn.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 上 周六 在 饭店 是 跟 我 家人 吃 的 饭 。</span> "with my family" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn shì gēn wǒ jiārén chī de fàn.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 是 在 饭店 吃 的 饭 。</span> "in a restaurant" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén shì zài fàndiàn chī de 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 <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction and some possible answers:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">你们 是 什么时候 来 的 ？</span> Emphasizing "when"</span><span class="pinyin"> Nǐmen shì shénme shíhou lái de?</span><br/><span> When did you come?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我们 是 昨天 来 的。</span> "Yesterday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen shì zuótiān lái de.</span><br/><span> We came yesterday.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">你 是 怎么 来 的 ？</span> Emphasizing "how" or "in what manner"</span><span class="pinyin"> Nǐ shì zěnme lái de?</span><br/><span> How did you come?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 坐 飞机 来 的 。</span> Emphasizing "by plane"</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.</span><br/><span> I came by plane.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">是 谁 告诉 你 的 ？</span> Emphasizing "who"</span><span class="pinyin"> Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?</span><br/><span> Who was it that told you?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">是 一 个 同事 告诉 我 的 。</span> Emphasizing "a colleague"</span><span class="pinyin"> Shì yī gè tóngshì gàosu wǒde.</span><br/><span> It was a colleague that told me.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">你 是 在 哪儿 出生 的 ？</span> "Where" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Nǐ shì zài chūshēng de?</span><br/><span> Where were you born?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 在 中国 出生 的 。</span> "In China" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ shì zài Zhōngguó chūshēng de.</span><br/><span> I was born in China.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>You might be wondering, "can I still say the same thing without the <span class="hanzi">是</span> and the <span class="hanzi">的</span>?" The answer is that in most cases, no, not really. While the <span class="hanzi">是</span> can sometimes be dropped, these examples sound weird without the <span class="hanzi">的</span>. It's just a part of learning to ask questions naturally in Mandarin. You don't have to learn a "<b>past tense</b>," 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 <span class="hanzist">是⋯⋯ 的</span></h2>

  <p>As described above, the <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction is used to draw attention to particular information in a sentence. Whereas a sentence without a <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction might describe a situation, a sentence with a <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> construction explains 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 <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> 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 <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的 </span>construction in Chinese. Usually the topic of a <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> sentence has already been established.</p>

  <h3 id="completed-action">Completed Action</h3>

  <p>It's important to note that a <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction also indicates that an action has been completed. However, this is not the purpose of a <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction. The association with a completed action is more like a side effect of <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span>. This means you shouldn't use <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> 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 <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> to draw attention to particular features of the action.</p>

  <h2 id="negating-是-的">Negating <span class="hanzist">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span></h2>

  <p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> sentences can only be negated with <span class="hanzi">不</span>, as <span class="hanzi">没</span> can not be used to negate <span class="hanzi">是</span>. Place <span class="hanzi">不</span> before <span class="hanzi">是</span> as you would in a standard sentence.</p>

  <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 不 是 坐 火车 来 的 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen bù shì zuò huǒchē lái de.</span><br/><span> We didn't come by train.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这个 电话 不 是 打给他的 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Zhège diànhuà bù shì dǎ gěi tā de.</span><br/><span> This phone call isn't to him.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 不 是 去 看她 的 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen bù shì qù kàn tā de.</span><br/><span> We didn't go to see her.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Note that negating a <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction creates the implication that the action in the sentence was carried out, and only the detail emphasized by <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> is being denied. So, in the last sentence, the implication is that <span class="hanzi">你</span> didn't go out with <span class="hanzi">她</span>, but did go out with someone. So negative <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的 </span>constructions would work nicely in the final scenes of detective dramas.</p>

  <h2 id="used-in-a-questions">Used in a Questions</h2>

  <p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span><span class="hanzi">他 是 用 左 手 写 的 吗 ？</span> Did he write this with his left hand?</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">你 是 跟 谁 出去 的？</span> Who did you go out with?</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">你 是 怎么 来 北京 的？</span> How did you come to Beijing?</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">你们 是 不 是 去年 认识 的？</span> Did you meet each other last year?</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">你 的 车 是 在 哪儿 买 的？</span> Where did you buy your car?</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Although this structure is called the <span class="hanzi">是 ⋯⋯ 的</span> construction, the <span class="hanzi">是</span> is nearly always optional. You will often hear this structure with <span class="hanzi">是</span> omitted, so be aware. The only time <span class="hanzi">是</span> is required in this construction is when it's being negated. Other than that, <span class="hanzi">是</span> is commonly omitted.</p>

  <h2 id="the-optional-是">the Optional <span class="hanzist">是</span></h2>

  <p>A few examples:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 坐 地铁 来 的 吗 ？</span> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò dìtiě lái de ma?</span><br/><span> Did you come by metro?</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 两 个 月 以前 认识 的。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liǎng gè yuè yǐqián rènshi de.</span><br/><span> We met two months ago.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 跟 我 男朋友 一起 去 的。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn wǒ nánpéngyou yīqǐ qù de.</span><br/><span> I went there with my boyfriend.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="where-to-put-的-when-theres-an-object">Where to Put <span class="hanzist">的</span> When there's an Object</h2>

  <p>Up till now we've said that <span class="hanzi">的</span> appears at the end of the sentence in a <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> construction. This is very often the case. However, if there's an object, <span class="hanzi">的</span> can appear before the object.</p>

  <p>For example:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 在 加拿大 学 的 英语。</span> the 的 comes before the object 英语</span><br/><span> I studied English in Canada.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 在 加拿大 学 英语 的。</span> the 的 comes after the object 英语</span><br/><span> I studied English in Canada.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Note that if the object is a person, <span class="hanzi">的</span> 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 在 法国 认识 的 她。</span> the 的 cannot come before the object 她</span><br/><span> I met her in France.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 在 法国 认识 她 的。</span> the 的 can only come after the object 她</span><br/><span> I met her in France.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="more-useful-examples">More Useful Examples</h2>

  <p>The <span class="hanzi">是⋯⋯ 的</span> 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 开车 回家 的。</span> "by car" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> I came home by car.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Focusing on Instrument:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 是 用 法文 写 的 信 。</span> "used French" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> I used French to write the letter.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">她 是 用 邮件 回复 我们 的。</span> "used the email" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> She used email to reply to us.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Focusing on Agent:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 的 钱包 是 被 一个男人 偷走 的。</span> "by a man" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> My wallet was stolen by a man.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">弟弟 是 被 同学 打伤 的。</span> "by his classmate" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> My younger brother was hit and got injured by his classmates.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Focusing on Target:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">你 是 给 谁 做 的 饭 ？</span> "for whom" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> Who did you make food for?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">他 是 向 你 借 的 钱？</span> "from you" is emphasized.</span><br/><span> 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_&quot;jiushi&quot;" title="wikilink">Adding emphasis with "jiushi"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Uses_of_&quot;shi_%E2%8B%AF%E2%8B%AF_de&quot;" 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>Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 54-5)</li>

    <li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 46-7, 173-80)</li>

    <li>Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (<span class="hanzi">汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级</span>) (pp. 319-22)</li>

    <li>Contemporary Chinese 2 (<span class="hanzi">当代中文2</span>) (pp. 46)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 119-121)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 14-6)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 152-4)</li>

    <li>Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 587-94)</li>

    <li>Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 233-5)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本2</span>) (pp. 88-9, 153)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本4</span>) (pp. 204-5)</li>

    <li>Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (<span class="hanzi">汉语口语入门篇下</span>) (pp. 66-8)</li>

    <li>40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (<span class="hanzi">基础汉语40课下册</span>） (p. 530)</li>

    <li>40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (<span class="hanzi">基础汉语40课上册</span>） (p. 205)</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>
</body>
</html>