The "shi... de" patterns: an overview

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.

Omitting a Noun Using 是……的

This is the most simple way to use 是 with 的: you drop the noun and let 的 represent it.

Using 是……的 with Distinguishing Words

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.

The Classic 是……的 Construction

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. When this is the case, the phrase that follows the "是" is the part of the situation that is being emphasized. A more complete explanation of this particular usage can be found here.

Indicating Purpose or Intent Using 是……的

When explaining "what you came for" or "what you want to do," it's common to use yet another type of 是……的 construction. Fortunately, this one is pretty easy for any intermediate learner.