Difference between revisions of "The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details"
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== Basic Usage ==
 
== Basic Usage ==
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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... "
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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A 是 ⋯⋯ 的 sentence is formed with this structure:
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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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!
 
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!
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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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.
 
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.
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== When to Use 是⋯⋯ 的 ==
 
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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 ===
 
=== Completed Action ===
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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.
 
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.
  
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== Negating 是 ⋯⋯的 ==
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== Negative Form ==
  
 
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.
 
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.
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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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.
+
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.
  
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== Used in a Questions ==
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== Used in a Question ==
  
 
是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions can be made into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Chinese:
 
是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions can be made into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Chinese:
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*他 是 用 左 手 写 的 <em>吗</em> ？<span class="trans">Did he write this with his left hand?</span>
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*他 是 <em>坐飞机</em> 去 的 <strong>吗</strong> ？<span class="pinyin">Tā shì zuò fēijī qù de <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did he go by plane?</span>
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*你 是 跟 <em>谁</em> 出去 的？<span class="trans">Who did you go out with?</span>
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*你们 <strong>是 不 是</strong> <em>去年</em> 认识 的 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <strong>shì bu shì</strong> <em>qùnián</em> rènshi de?</span><span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span>
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*你 是 <em>怎么</em> 来 北京 的？<span class="trans">How did you come to Beijing?</span>
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*你 的 车 是 <em>在 哪儿</em> 买 的 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de chē shì <em>zài nǎr</em> mǎi de?</span><span class="trans">Where did you buy your car?</span>
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*你们 <em>是 不 是</em> 去年 认识 的？<span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span>
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*你 跟 <em>谁</em> 去 的 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì gēn <em>shéi</em> qù de?</span><span class="trans">Who did you go with?</span>
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*你 的 车 是 <em>在 哪儿</em> 买 的？<span class="trans">Where did you buy your car?</span>
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*这个 东西 <em>多少钱</em> 买 的 ？<span class="trans">How much did this thing cost?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 08:44, 27 November 2017

Also known as: 是⋯⋯的结构 (shì... de jiégòu), 是⋯⋯ 的 sentence and 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.

Singling out Details for Emphasis

  • A: 明天 我 要 去 杭州 。A: Míngtiān wǒ yào qù Hángzhōu.I will go to Hangzhou tomorrow.
  • B: 你 怎么 去 ？B: Nǐ zěnme qù?How will you get there?
  • A: 我 坐 火车 去 。A : Wǒ zuò huǒchē qù.I will go by train.

A 是⋯⋯的 construction can pick out any detail that's related to a past event. Whatever comes immediately after 是 is emphasized. Check out this example:

  • A: 昨天 我 去 杭州 了。A: Zuótiān wǒ qù Hángzhōu le.I will go to Hangzhou tomorrow.
  • B: 你 是 怎么 去 的 ？B: Nǐ shì zěnme qù de?How did you get there?
  • A: 我 是 坐 火车 去 的 。A : Wǒ shì zuò huǒchē qù de.I went by train.

Basic Usage

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... "

Structure

Subj. + 是 + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + 的

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!

Examples

  • 你们 是 什么时候 来 的 ？Emphasizing "when"Nǐmen shì shénme shíhou lái de?When did you come?
  • 我们 是 昨天 来 的。"Yesterday" is emphasized.Wǒmen shì zuótiān lái de.We came yesterday.
  • 你 是 在 哪儿 出生 的 ？"Where" is emphasized.Nǐ shì zài chūshēng de?Where were you born?
  • 我 是 在 中国 出生 的 。"In China" is emphasized.Wǒ shì zài Zhōngguó chūshēng de.I was born in China.
  • 你 是 怎么 来 的 ？Emphasizing "how" or "in what manner"Nǐ shì zěnme lái de?How did you come?
  • 我 是 坐 飞机 来 的 。Emphasizing "by plane"Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.I came by plane.
  • 是 谁 告诉 你 的 ？Emphasizing "who"Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?Who was it that told you?
  • 是 一 个 同事 告诉 我 的 。Emphasizing "a colleague"Shì yī gè tóngshì gàosu wǒde.It was a colleague that told me.

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.

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.

Negative Form

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

  • 我们 不 是 坐 火车 来 的 。 Wǒmen bù shì zuò huǒchē lái de.We didn't come by train.
  • 这个 电话 不 是 打给他的 。 Zhège diànhuà bù shì dǎ gěi tā de.This phone call isn't to him.
  • 我们 不 是 去 看她 的 。 Wǒmen bù shì qù kàn tā de.We didn't go to see her.

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 Question

是 ⋯⋯ 的 constructions can be made into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Chinese:

Examples

  • 他 是 坐飞机 去 的 吗 ？Tā shì zuò fēijī qù de ma?Did he go by plane?
  • 你们 是 不 是 去年 认识 的 ？Nǐmen shì bu shì qùnián rènshi de?Did you meet each other last year?
  • 你 的 车 是 在 哪儿 买 的 ？Nǐ de chē shì zài nǎr mǎi de?Where did you buy your car?
  • 你 跟 谁 去 的 ？Nǐ shì gēn shéi qù de?Who did you go with?
  • 这个 东西 多少钱 买 的 ？How much did this thing cost?

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:

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

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:

  • 我 是 在 加拿大 学 的 英语。the 的 comes before the object 英语I studied English in Canada.
  • 我 是 在 加拿大 学 英语 的。the 的 comes after the object 英语I studied English in Canada.

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.

  • 我 是 在 法国 认识 的 她。the 的 cannot come before the object 她I met her in France.
  • 我 是 在 法国 认识 她 的。the 的 can only come after the object 她I met her in France.

See Also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites


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