ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-130.txt

{{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:

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

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:

<div class="liju">
*我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 在 饭店 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén zài fàndiàn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I ate with my family in a restaurant last Saturday.</span>
</div>

We can pick out any one of the details by putting 是 in front of it:

<div class="liju">
*我 跟 我 家人 <em>是</em> <strong>上 周六</strong> 在 饭店 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"last Saturday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn wǒ jiārén <em> shì</em> <strong>shàng Zhōuliù</strong> zài fàndiàn chī <em>de</em> fàn.</span>
*我 上 周六 在 饭店 <em>是</em> <strong>跟 我 家人</strong> 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"with my family" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù zài fàndiàn <em>shì</em> <strong>gēn wǒ jiārén</strong> chī <em>de</em> fàn.</span>
*我 上 周六 跟 我 家人 <em>是</em> <strong>在 饭店</strong> 吃 <em>的</em> 饭 。<span class="expl">"in a restaurant" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng Zhōuliù gēn wǒ jiārén <em>shì</em> <strong>zài fàndiàn</strong> chī <em> de</em> fàn.</span>
</div>

=== More Simple Examples ===

These are some of the most common questions asked using the 是 ⋯⋯ 的 construction and some possible answers:

<div class="liju">
*你们 <em>是</em> 什么时候 来 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "when"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em> shì</em> shénme shíhou lái <em> de</em>?</span><span class="trans">When did you come? </span>
*我们 <em>是</em> <strong>昨天</strong> 来 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"Yesterday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We came yesterday.</span>
</div>

<div class="liju">
*你 <em>是</em> 怎么 来 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "how" or "in what manner"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> zěnme lái <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How did you come?</span>
*我 <em>是</em> <strong>坐 飞机</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "by plane"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zuò fēijī</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I came by plane.</span>
</div>

<div class="liju">
*<em>是</em> 谁 告诉 你 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">Emphasizing "who"</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Shì</em> shéi gàosu nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who was it that told you? </span>
*<em>是</em> <strong>一 个 同事</strong> 告诉 我 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "a colleague"</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Shì</em> <strong>yī gè tóngshì</strong> gàosu wǒ<em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">It was a colleague that told me.</span>
</div>

<div class="liju">
*你 <em>是</em> <strong>在 哪儿</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> ？<span class="expl">"Where" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài </strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where were you born?</span>
*我 <em>是</em> <strong>在 中国</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">"In China" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài Zhōngguó</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I was born in China.</span>
</div>

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 ===

<div class="liju">

*我们 <em>不</em> 是 坐 火车 来 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> shì zuò huǒchē lái de.</span><span class="trans">We didn't come by train.</span>
*这个 电话 <em>不</em> 是 打给他的 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège diànhuà <em>bù</em> shì dǎ gěi tā de.</span><span class="trans">This phone call isn't to him.</span>
*我们 <em>不</em> 是 去 看她 的 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù</em> shì qù kàn tā de.</span><span class="trans">We didn't go to see her.</span>

</div>

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 ===

<div class="liju">

*他 是 用 左 手 写 的 <em>吗</em> ？<span class="trans">Did he write this with his left hand?</span>
*你 是 跟 <em>谁</em> 出去 的？<span class="trans">Who did you go out with?</span>
*你 是 <em>怎么</em> 来 北京 的？<span class="trans">How did you come to Beijing?</span>
*你们 <em>是 不 是</em> 去年 认识 的？<span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span>
*你 的 车 是 <em>在 哪儿</em> 买 的？<span class="trans">Where did you buy your car?</span>

</div>

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:

<div class="liju">

*你 坐 地铁 来 <em>的</em> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò dìtiě lái <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you come by metro?</span>
*我们 两 个 月 以前 认识 <em>的</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liǎng gè yuè yǐqián rènshi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We met two months ago.</span>
*我 跟 我 男朋友 一起 去 <em>的</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn wǒ nánpéngyou yīqǐ qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went there with my boyfriend.</span>

</div>

== 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:

<div class="liju">

*我 <em>是</em> 在 加拿大 学 <em>的</em> <strong>英语</strong>。<span class="expl">the 的 comes before the object 英语</span><span class="trans">I studied English in Canada.</span>
*我 <em>是</em> 在 加拿大 学 <strong>英语</strong> <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">the 的 comes after the object 英语</span><span class="trans">I studied English in Canada.</span>

</div>

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.

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>是</em> 在 法国 认识 <em>的</em> <strong>她</strong>。<span class="expl">the 的 cannot come before the object 她</span><span class="trans">I met her in France.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>是</em> 在 法国 认识 <strong>她</strong> <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">the 的 can only come after the object 她</span><span class="trans">I met her in France.</span></li>
</ul>

</div>

== 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:

<div class="liju">
*我 <em>是</em> <strong>开车</strong> 回家 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"by car" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">I came home by car.</span>
</div>

Focusing on Instrument:

<div class="liju">
*我 <em>是</em> <strong>用 法文</strong> 写 <em>的</em> 信 。<span class="expl">"used French" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">I used French to write the letter.</span>
*她 <em>是</em> <strong>用 邮件</strong> 回复 我们 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"used the email" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">She used email to reply to us.</span>

</div>

Focusing on Agent:

<div class="liju">
*我 的 钱包 <em>是</em> <strong>被 一个男人</strong> 偷走 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"by a man" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">My wallet was stolen by a man.</span>
*弟弟 <em>是</em> <strong>被 同学</strong> 打伤 <em>的</em>。<span class="expl">"by his classmate" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">My younger brother was hit and got injured by his classmates.</span>
</div>

Focusing on Target:

<div class="liju">
*你 <em>是</em> <strong>给 谁</strong> 做 <em>的</em> 饭 ？<span class="expl">"for whom" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">Who did you make food for?</span>
*他 <em>是</em> <strong>向 你</strong> 借 <em>的</em> 钱？<span class="expl">"from you" is emphasized.</span><span class="trans">He borrowed the money from you?</span>
</div>

== 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 <em>是</em> 哪里 来 <em>的</em>？/ 你 <em>是</em> 怎么 来 <em>的</em>？|grammar point|ASG8YTSF}}
{{Rel char|的}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}