Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not… but…" with "er shi""

 
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"不是..., 是..." (búshì..., shì...) is used to clarify something about a certain noun. What's being clarified can range from adjectives, verbs and even noun phrases.
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#REDIRECT[[Using "er" to explain contrasting ideas]]
 
 
The basic structure:
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subject + 不是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #1 + 是 + Adjective/Noun/Verb #2
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
An easy way to remember this pattern is that it roughly corresponds to the English, "Something is not X, it's Y".
 
 
 
Here are some more examples to help make this pattern clear.
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
*那 <em>不是</em> 一 个 问题,<em>是</em> 一 个 机会。
 
*他 <em>不是</em> 中国人,<em>是</em> 美国人。
 
*那 条 虫子 <em>不是</em> 死 了,<em>是</em> 还 或者 的!
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
 
 
'''SOURCES NEEDED'''
 

Latest revision as of 02:54, 26 October 2018