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The "shi... de" patterns: an overview
=====================================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASG8YTSF)
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[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
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Similar to
- \[...\_de%22\_construction\_for\_emphasizing\_details
The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details\] (B1)
- \[...\_de%22\_construction\_for\_indicating\_purpose
The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose\] (B1)
- [Using "de"
(modal particle)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22de%22_(modal_particle)) (B1)
-
Omitting a Noun with 的
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modifying_nouns_with_adjective_%2B_%22de%22#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.
\
Used for
[Emphasizing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing)
-
Keywords
[是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%98%AF),
[的](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%9A%84)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-shi.jpg)
An intermediate student of Chinese should be aware of the classic
\[...\_de%22\_construction
"shi... de" construction\]. 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.
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Omitting a
Noun with 的](#Omitting_a_Noun_with_.E7.9A.84 "wikilink")
- [2 Used with
Distinguishing
Words](#Used_with_Distinguishing_Words "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [3 The Classic
Construction](#The_Classic_Construction "wikilink")
- [3.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [3.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [4 Used for
Indicating Purpose or
Intent](#Used_for_Indicating_Purpose_or_Intent "wikilink")
- [4.1
Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink")
- [4.2
Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink")
- [5 Used for
Talking about What People
Do](#Used_for_Talking_about_What_People_Do "wikilink")
- [6 Used for a
Tone of Strong
Affirmation](#Used_for_a_Tone_of_Strong_Affirmation "wikilink")
- [7 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [8 Sources and
Further Reading](#Sources_and_Further_Reading "wikilink")
- [8.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
- 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?
- B: 我 *是* **中文 专业** *的*
。Wǒ *shì* **Zhōngwén zhuānyè**
*de*.My major is Chinese.
Used with Distinguishing Words
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're a good student, you learned the classic pattern for [simple
sentences using
adjectives](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simple_%22noun_%2B_adjective%22_sentences)
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](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Distinguishing_word).
### Structure
Subj. + 是 + \[Distinguishing Words\] + 的
### Examples
The bold words are the "distinguishing words," so pay attention to what
sorts of things they describe.
- 这个 苹果 *是* **坏***的*。Zhège píngguǒ *shì*
**huài** *de*.This apple is bad.
- 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.
- 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.
The Classic Construction
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Structure
Subj. + 是 + \[Information to be Emphasized\] + Verb + 的
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
\[...\_de%22\_construction
here\].
### Examples
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.
- 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?
- 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.
- A: 你 *是* **在 哪里** 学 *的*
中文？Nǐ *shì* **zài nǎlǐ** xué *de*
Zhōngwén?Where is it that you study
Chinese?
- 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.
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:
- A: 昨天 你 *是* **怎么** 回 *的* 家
？Zuótiān nǐ *shì* **zěnme** huí *de*
jiā?How did you come back
yesterday?
- B: 昨天 我 *是* **打车** 回 家 *的*
。Zuótiān wǒ *shì* **dǎchē** huíjiā
*de*.I went home by taxi
yesterday.
Used for Indicating Purpose or Intent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Structure
When explaining "what you came for" or "what you want to do," it's
common to use yet
\[...de
another type of 是⋯⋯的 construction\].
Person + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb+ 的
When expressing a purpose, 是 and 的 are often used together with 用来,
especially when the subject is a thing.
Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb + 的
### Examples
- 我 *是* **来** 实习 *的* 。Wǒ *shì* **lái**
shíxí *de*.I came here to do an
internship.
- 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.
Used for Talking about What People Do
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This pattern can also be used to talk about what kind of work people do:
- A: 我 *是* **教 汉语** *的* 。你 *是*
**做 什么** *的* ？Wǒ *shì* **jiāo Hànyǔ**
*de*. Nǐ *shì* **zuò shénme** *de*?A: I
teach Chinese. What kind of work do you do?
- B: 我 *是* **送 外卖** *的*
。Wǒ *shì* **sòng wàimài**
*de*.B: I'm a take-out delivery
guy.
Used for a Tone of Strong Affirmation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
- 这个 东西 *是* **可以** 吃 *的* 。Zhège dōngxi
*shì* **kěyǐ** chī *de*.This thing is
edible.
- 我 **会** 去 *的* 。Wǒ **huì** qù
*de*.I will go.
- 我们 **能** 做到 *的* 。Wǒmen **néng** zuòdào
*de*.We can do it.
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Modifying nouns with phrase +
de](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modifying_nouns_with_phrase_%2B_de)
- [Expressing
possession](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_possession)
- \[...\_de%22\_construction\_for\_emphasizing\_details
The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details\]
- \[...\_de%22\_construction\_for\_indicating\_purpose
The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose\]
Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Books
- [Structures of Mandarin Chinese for speakers of English
中文语法快易通：句型结构](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Structures_of_Mandarin_Chinese_for_speakers_of_English_%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E5%BF%AB%E6%98%93%E9%80%9A%EF%BC%9A%E5%8F%A5%E5%9E%8B%E7%BB%93%E6%9E%84) (pp.
125) \[ →buy\]
- [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) (pp.
233-5) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m)
- [Basic Patterns of Chinese
Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar) (pp.
54) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD)
- [A Practical Chinese Grammar For
Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95)) (pp.
222-5)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA)
[Categories](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories):
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