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. 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.

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.

Examples

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

• 我 是 男的。I am a man.
• 这个 苹果 是 坏的。This apple is bad.
• 他 家的 家具 都 是 中式的。The furniture in his hosue is all in the Chinese style.
• 这个 计划 是 长期的。This plan is for the long-term.

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, 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.

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.

• 你 是 什么 时候 开始 学 中文 的？When was it that you started studying Chinese?
• 我 是 两年 以前 开始 学 中文 的。It was two years ago that I started studying Chinese.

• 你 是 在 哪里 学 的 中文？Where is it that you study Chinese?
• 我 是 在 上海 学 的 中文。It's in Shanghai that I study Chinese.

In the last example, 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:

• 昨天 你 是 怎么 吃 晚饭 的？What did you do for dinner last night?
• 我 是 跟 朋友 一起 吃 晚饭 的。I ate dinner together with some friends.
• 我 是 跟 朋友 一起 吃 的 晚饭。I ate dinner together with some friends.

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. For this usage, you place the verb that you want to perform after the "是". You could think of the "是" as being the "am" in the sentence "I am here to study." When expressing a purpose, "是" and "的" are often used together with "用来", especially when the complement isn't a person.

• 我 是 来 这里 实习 的。I came here to do an internship.
• 钱 是 用来 花 的，不是 用来 存 的。Money is for spending, not for saving.
• 这间 房子 是 用来 放 杂物 的。This room is to put all of our junk in.

It can also be used to say what someone's job is, sort of like expressing the purpose of your work. The "是" is not necessary for this usage.

• 我 是 做 翻译 的，我 老公 是 做 IT 的。I do translating, my boss does IT work.
• 有 一个 送 外卖 的 在 外面。There's a take-out delivery guy outside.
• 他们 都 是 来 打工 的。They are all here to work part-time.