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<title>The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose</title>
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<h1>The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose
</h1>


<p>There are many ways to explain why you are doing something or what an object is used for. One of the more natural ways just happens to involve 是⋯⋯的. This is a different usage from the "classic" 是⋯⋯的 pattern.</p>

<h2>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 A Person as Subject </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 A Thing as Subject </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 See also </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Sources and further reading </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h2>A Person as Subject</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>If the subject is a person, there is often a 来 or 去 after the 是, indicating direction like "coming here" or "going there."
</p>
<div class="deux">Person + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb+ 的</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 是 来 旅游 的 。
Wǒ shì lái lǚyóu de.
I came to travel. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我们 都 是 去 出差 的 。
Wǒmen dōu shì qù chūchāi de.
We are all going on business trips. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他们 都 是 来 实习 的 。
Tāmen dōu shì lái shíxí de.
They all came here to do an internship. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 真的 是 来 帮 我们 的 吗 ？
Nǐ zhēnde shì lái bāng wǒmen de ma?
Are you really here to help us? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我们 不 是 去 玩 的 ，是 去 做 调查 的 。
Wǒmen bù shì qù wán de, shì qù zuò diàochá de.
We're not going there to hang out with people. Instead, we're there to do research.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>A Thing as Subject</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>If the subject is a thing, 用来 is often used. Look at the examples below for some more clarification.</p>

<div class="deux">Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb + 的</div>

<p>or</p>

<div class="deux">Thing + 是 + 给 + Person + Verb + 的</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这 种 菜 是 用来 做 汤 的 。
Zhè zhǒng cài shì yònglái zuò tāng de.
This kind of vegetable is for making soup. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这个 房间 是 给 客人 住 的 。
Zhège fángjiān shì gěi kèrén zhù de.
This room is for our guest to live in. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这些 钱 是 给 孩子 上 大学 的 。
zhèxiē qián shì gěi háizi shàng dàxué de.
This money is for our child's college education. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这些 礼物 是 给 客户 准备 的 。
Zhèxiē lǐwù shì gěi kèhù zhǔnbèi de.
These presents are prepared for the clients. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">钱 是 用来 花 的 ，不 是 用来 省的 。
Qián shì yònglái huā de, bù shì yònglái shěng de.
Money is for spending, not for saving.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>See also</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">The "shi... de" patterns: an overview </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>Sources and further reading</h3>

<h4>Books</h4>
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