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<h1>The "shi... de" patterns: an overview
</h1>

<p>An intermediate student of Chinese should be aware of the classic "shi... de" construction. It's important to learn and use. But don't be tempted to think that the "official" 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) pattern is the only way that 是 and 的 can work together in a sentence! There are multiple ways to use 是 and 的 together, and they can be used for different purposes. This article helps break down the various uses of 是⋯⋯的 and tackle the confusion head-on.
</p>
<h2>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Omitting a Noun with 的 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Used with Distinguishing Words </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 The Classic Construction </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Used for Indicating Purpose or Intent </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">5 Used for Talking about What People Do </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">6 Used for a Tone of Strong Affirmation </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">7 See also </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">8 Sources and Further Reading </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">8.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h2>Omitting a Noun with 的</h2>

<p>This is the most simple way to use 是 with 的: you drop the noun and let 的 represent it. This usage requires context; otherwise the other person won't know what noun you are referring to. Once that is established, however, this usage is really easy: having the 的 take the place of the noun is sort of like the way we say "one" or "it" in English. It's a basic substitution, but it's one that is very common and very helpful in everyday Chinese. Some people consider this just to be a version of "Adjective + 的 + Noun" that has dropped the noun, so the 的 has to take it's place. The structure without the noun might take a little practice, but once you get it, it's so easy you'll be using it all the time.
</p>
<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: 你 也 是 大学生 ？你 是 什么 专业 的 ？
Nǐ yě shì dàxuéshēng? Nǐ shì shénme zhuānyè de?
Are you also a college student? What's your major? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: 我 是 中文 专业 的 。
Wǒ shì Zhōngwén zhuānyè de.
My major is Chinese.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2>Used with Distinguishing Words</h2>

<p>If you're a good student, you learned the classic pattern for simple sentences using adjectives long ago (you know, the 你很漂亮 type), and you know that you're not supposed to use 是 in these sentences. But then you may have later come across some sentence patterns--apparently using adjectives--where you have to use 是 (and also 的). These are sentences that use a special type of word (you might think of it as a special class of adjectives, if that helps) called distinguishing words.</p>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">Subj. + 是 + [Distinguishing Words] + 的</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>The bold words are the "distinguishing words," so pay attention to what sorts of things they describe.</p>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这个 苹果 是 坏的。
Zhège píngguǒ shì huài de.
This apple is bad. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 错 了 ，那个 人 是 女的。
Nǐ cuò le, nàge rén shì nǚ de.
You are mistaken. That person is a woman. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他 家 的 家具 都 是 中式的。
Tā jiā de jiājù dōu shì Zhōng shì de.
The furniture in his house is all in Chinese style.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>The Classic Construction</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">Subj. + 是 + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + 的</div>

<p>This classic pattern is the one for emphasizing certain details about events in the past. It's often used to ask pointed questions about past events, and then to answer those questions. Usually, the situation is already established, and the speakers are trying to get more specific clarification, such as when, where, or how the action took place. When this is the case, the phrase that follows the 是 is the part of the situation that is being emphasized. It is also important to know that you can't use "了" in this sentence. "了" only tells you that the action is completed, not any of the other details that this construction is looking for. Since it is already understood that the action took place, the "了" is unnecessary. A more complete explanation of this particular usage can be found here.
</p>
<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>The examples below share the theme: 我在上海学了两年中文. The bolded words are the aspect of the situation that are being emphasized.</p>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: 你 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 的？
Nǐ shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de?
A: When was it that you started studying Chinese? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: 我 是 两 年 前 开始 学 中文 的。
Wǒ shì liǎng nián qián kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de.
It was two years ago when I started studying Chinese. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: 你 是 在 哪里 学 的 中文？
Nǐ shì zài nǎlǐ xué de Zhōngwén?
Where is it that you study Chinese? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: 我 是 在 上海 学 的 中文。
Wǒ shì zài Shànghǎi xué de Zhōngwén.
It's in Shanghai that I study Chinese.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<p>In the example above, you might have noticed something funny with the object of the verb. In this construction, if the verb is transitive (it takes an object), then the object can be placed either before or after the 的 without affecting the meaning. Take a look at the example below:
</p>
<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: 昨天 你 是 怎么 回 的 家 ？
Zuótiān nǐ shì zěnme huí de jiā?
How did you come back yesterday? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: 昨天 我 是 打车 回 家 的 。
Zuótiān wǒ shì dǎchē huíjiā de.
I went home by taxi yesterday.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>Used for Indicating Purpose or Intent</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>When explaining "what you came for" or "what you want to do," it's common to use yet another type of 是⋯⋯的 construction.</p>

<div class="deux">Person + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb+ 的</div>

<p>When expressing a purpose, 是 and 的 are often used together with 用来, especially when the subject is a thing.
</p>
<div class="deux">Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb + 的</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 是 来 实习 的 。
Wǒ shì lái shíxí de.
I came here to do an internship. </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>

<h2>Used for Talking about What People Do
</h2>
<p>This pattern can also be used to talk about what kind of work people do:</p>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: 我 是 教 汉语 的 。你 是 做 什么 的 ？
Wǒ shì jiāo Hànyǔ de. Nǐ shì zuò shénme de? </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">A: I teach Chinese. What kind of work do you do? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: 我 是 送 外卖 的 。
Wǒ shì sòng wàimài de. </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">B: I'm a take-out delivery guy.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>Used for a Tone of Strong Affirmation</h2>

<p>Sometimes you can use 的 to really add a kick to your responses, making them stronger. You might even hear Chinese people reply with just 是的 which means "That's right." This usage is similar to the way that English speakers might stress the word "is" in sentences like "It is my food." When used to express affirmation, 会, 能, and 可以 are often used as well. Again, the 是 is optional.
</p>
<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这个 东西 是 可以 吃 的 。
Zhège dōngxi shì kěyǐ chī de.
This thing is edible. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 会 去 的 。
Wǒ huì qù de.
I will go. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我们 能 做到 的 。
Wǒmen néng zuòdào de.
We can do it.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>See also</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Modifying nouns with phrase + de
Expressing possession </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>Sources and Further Reading</h3>


<h4>Books</h4>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Structures of Mandarin Chinese for speakers of English 中文语法快易通：句型结构 (pp. 125) [ →buy] </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 233-5) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 54) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 222-5) →buy</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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