Difference between revisions of "The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details"

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{{AKA|是⋯⋯的结构 (shì...  de jiégòu)|是⋯⋯的 sentence|是⋯⋯的 pattern}}
 
{{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 or telling details about the past.
+
The 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) construction is used to draw 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 or telling ''details'' about the past.
  
== When to use it ==
+
This use of 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) is usually emphasized in textbooks over other uses, and therefore is sometimes called the "classic" 是⋯⋯的 construction.
 +
 
 +
== When to Use It ==
  
 
Even if you understand that 了 is not used to mark "past tense" in Chinese, it's possible that you incorrectly use it that way sometimes. For example, what if you want to ask a question about something that happened in the past? Would you ever say one of the following sentences?
 
Even if you understand that 了 is not used to mark "past tense" in Chinese, it's possible that you incorrectly use it that way sometimes. For example, what if you want to ask a question about something that happened in the past? Would you ever say one of the following sentences?
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<li class="x">你 昨天 <strong>几点</strong> 到 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <strong>jǐ diǎn</strong> dào <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">What time did you arrive yesterday?</span></li>
 
<li class="x">你 昨天 <strong>几点</strong> 到 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <strong>jǐ diǎn</strong> dào <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">What time did you arrive yesterday?</span></li>
 
<li class="x">你 跟 <strong>谁</strong> 去 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ gēn <strong>shéi</strong> qù <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who did you go with?</span></li>
 
<li class="x">你 跟 <strong>谁</strong> 去 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ gēn <strong>shéi</strong> qù <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who did you go with?</span></li>
<li class="x">他 <strong>什么</strong> 打 你 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Tā yòng <strong>shénme</strong> dǎ nǐ <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">What did he use to hit you?</span></li>
+
<li class="x">他 <strong>什么</strong> 打 你 <em>了</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>yòng shénme</strong> dǎ nǐ <em>le</em>?</span><span class="trans">What did he use to hit you?</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
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<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 昨天 我 去 杭州 了。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ qù Hángzhōu le.</span><span class="trans">I will go to Hangzhou tomorrow.</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 昨天 我 去 杭州 了。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ qù Hángzhōu le.</span><span class="trans">I went to Hangzhou yesterday.</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 你 <em>是</em> <strong>怎么</strong> 去 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> <strong>zěnme</strong> qù <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How did you get there?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 你 <em>是</em> <strong>怎么</strong> 去 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> <strong>zěnme</strong> qù <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How did you get there?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 <em>是</em> <strong>坐 火车</strong> 去 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zuò huǒchē </strong> qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went by train.</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 <em>是</em> <strong>坐 火车</strong> 去 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zuò huǒchē </strong> qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went by train.</span></li>
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<ul>
 
<ul>
 
<li class="o">你 昨天 <em>是</em> <strong>几点</strong> 到 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <em>shì</em> <strong>jǐ diǎn</strong> dào <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">What time did you arrive yesterday?</span></li>
 
<li class="o">你 昨天 <em>是</em> <strong>几点</strong> 到 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <em>shì</em> <strong>jǐ diǎn</strong> dào <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">What time did you arrive yesterday?</span></li>
<li class="o">你 <em>是</em> <strong>跟 谁</strong> 去 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> gēn <strong>shéi </strong> <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who did you go with?</span></li>
+
<li class="o">你 <em>是</em> <strong>跟 谁</strong> 去 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>shì</em> <strong>gēn shéi </strong> <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who did you go with?</span></li>
<li class="o">他 <em>是</em> <strong>什么</strong> 打 你 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>shì</em> yòng <strong>shénme</strong> dǎ nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">What did he use to hit you?</span></li>
+
<li class="o">他 <em>是</em> <strong>什么</strong> 打 你 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>shì</em> <strong>yòng shénme</strong> dǎ nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">What did he use to hit you?</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
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== Affirmative Form ==
 
== Affirmative Form ==
  
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:
+
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"
+
* "The situation is that..."
 
* "It's that... "
 
* "It's that... "
 
* "It was...  that... "
 
* "It was...  that... "
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*你们 <em>是</em> <strong>什么 时候</strong> 到 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "when"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>shì</em> <strong>shénme shíhou</strong> dào <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">When did you arrive?</span>
+
 
*我们 <em>是</em> <strong>昨天</strong> 到 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">"Yesterday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> dào <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We arrived yesterday.</span>
+
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你们 <em>是</em> <strong>什么 时候</strong> 到 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "when"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>shì</em> <strong>shénme shíhou</strong> dào <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">When did you guys arrive?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 <em>是</em> <strong>昨天</strong> 到 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">"Yesterday" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> dào <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We arrived yesterday.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<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 nǎr</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>
+
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 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 nǎr</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where were you born?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 <em>是</em> <strong>在 香港</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">"In Hong Kong" is emphasized.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài Xiānggǎng</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I was born in Hong Kong.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*你 <strong>骑 自行车</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "by bike"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>qí zìxíngchē</strong> lái <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you come by bike? </span>
+
 
*我 <strong>走</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "by foot"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>zǒu</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I came by foot.</span>
+
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 <strong>骑 自行车</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "by bike"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>qí zìxíngchē</strong> lái <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you come by bike? </span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 <strong>走</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "by foot"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>zǒu</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I came by foot.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*<strong>谁</strong> 告诉 你 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "who"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Shéi</strong> gàosu nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who was it that told you? </span>
+
 
*<strong>一 个 同事</strong> 告诉 我 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "a colleague"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Yī gè tóngshì</strong> gàosu wǒ <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">It was a colleague that told me.</span>
+
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> <strong>谁</strong> 告诉 你 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">Emphasizing "who"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Shéi</strong> gàosu nǐ <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who told you? </span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <strong>一 个 同事</strong> 告诉 我 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">Emphasizing "a colleague"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Yī gè tóngshì</strong> gàosu wǒ <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">A colleague told me.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</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.
+
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.
  
 
== Negative Form ==
 
== Negative Form ==
  
是⋯⋯的 sentences can only be negated with 不, as 没 can not be used to negate 是.
+
是⋯⋯的 sentences can only be negated with 不, as 没 can not be used to negate 是. Remember that you need ''both'' the 不 ''and'' the 是 together to make the correct negative form.
 
 
是 can't be omitted in this construction because it's being negated.
 
  
=== Examples ===
+
Some examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我 <strong></strong> <em></em> <strong></strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>bù</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>zǒu</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I didn't come by foot.</span>
+
<ul>
*他 <strong></strong> <em></em> <strong>跟 我们</strong> 一起 去 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>bù</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>gēn wǒmen</strong> yīqǐ qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">He didn't go together with us.</span>
+
<li class="o">他们 <em>不是</em> <strong>在 网上</strong> 认识 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>bù shì</em> <strong>zài wǎngshàng</strong> rènshi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">They didn't meet online.</span></li>
*他们 <strong></strong> <em>是</em> <strong>在 网上</strong> 认识 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <strong></strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>zài wǎngshàng</strong> rènshi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">They didn't meet online.</span>
+
<li class="o"><em>不是</em> <strong>跟 我们 一起</strong> 去 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù shì</em> <strong>gēn wǒmen yīqǐ</strong> qù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">He didn't go with us.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 <em>不</em> <strong>坐 地铁</strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">The is missing</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>zuò dìtiě</strong> lái <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I didn't come by metro.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 <em>不</em> <strong>在 中国</strong> 出生 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">The 是 is missing</span><span class="pinyin"><em></em> <strong>zài Zhōngguó</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>. </span><span class="trans">I wasn't born in China.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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* With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]]
 
* With a [[Word order#Using question words in a Chinese sentence|question word]]
  
=== Examples ===
+
Some examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*你们 <em>是 不 是</em> <strong>去年</strong> 认识 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>shì bu shì</em> <strong>qùnián</strong> rènshi <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span>
+
*<strong>用 邮件</strong> 回复 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">吗 is a question particle</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>yòng yóujiàn</strong> huífù <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did she reply by email?</span>
*这个 东西 <strong>多少钱</strong> <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi <strong>duōshǎo qián</strong> mǎi <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How much did this thing cost?</span>
+
*你们 <em>是 不 是</em> <strong>去年</strong> 认识 <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">是不是 is an affirmative-negative pattern</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>shì bu shì</em> <strong>qùnián</strong> rènshi <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did you meet each other last year?</span>
*<strong>用 邮件</strong> 回复 <em>的</em> ?<span class="pinyin"><strong>yòng yóujiàn</strong> huífù <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did she reply by email?</span>
+
*这个 东西 <strong>多少钱</strong> <em>的</em> ?<span class="expl">多少 is a question word</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi <strong>duōshao qián</strong> mǎi <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">How much did you buy this thing for?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Where to put 的 ==
+
== Is 是 always optional? ==
  
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.
+
Generally, 是 can be omitted, and the meaning will not change. However, in a small number of cases, omitting 是 will make it unclear which part of the sentence is being emphasized. In these cases, 是 clearly indicates which words are being emphasized. Take a look at this example:
  
=== Examples ===
+
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 你 上周 和 他 去 北京 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàng zhōu hé tā qù Běijīng  <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you go to Beijing with him last weekend?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
This sentence could emphasize 上周 (time), or 和他 (part of the subject). A simple 是 can make clear which one the speaker is emphasizing.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*他 <em>是</em> 在 AllSet Learning <strong></strong> <em>的</em> <strong>中文</strong> 。<span class="expl">the 的 comes before the object 中文</span><span class="pinyin"><em>shì</em> zài AllSet Learning <strong>xué</strong> <em>de</em> <strong>Zhōngwén</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He studied Chinese with AllSet Learning.</span>
+
<ul>
*他们 <em>是</em> 昨天 晚上 <strong></strong> <em>的</em> <strong>面</strong> 。<span class="expl">the 的 comes before the object 面</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>shì</em> zuótiān wǎnshang <strong>jiàn</strong> <em>de</em> <strong>miàn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">They met last night.</span>
+
<li class="o">你 <em>是</em> <strong>上周</strong> 和 他 去 北京 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="expl">上周 is emphasized</span><span class="pinyin"> <em>shì</em> <strong>shàng zhōu</strong> hé tā qù Běijīng <em>de </em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Was it last week that you went to Beijing with him?</span></li>
*谁 <strong>开</strong> <em>的</em> <strong>空调</strong> ?<span class="expl">the 的 comes before the object 空调</span><span class="pinyin">Shéi <strong>kāi</strong> <em>de</em> <strong>kōngtiáo</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Who turned on the air conditioner?</span>
+
<li class="o">你 上周 <em>是</em> <strong>和他</strong> 去 北京 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="expl">和他 is emphasized</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàng zhōu <em>shì</em> <strong>hé tā</strong> qù Běijīng <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Was it him that you went to Beijing with last week?</span></li>
 +
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that if the object is a person, has to go at the end of the sentence. Otherwise it can go before the object or at the end of the sentence.
+
== Position of 的 ==
 +
 
 +
Until now we've said that the 的 appears at the end of the sentence in a 是⋯⋯的 construction. This is very often the case. However, it can actually appear in one of two places. Take a look at the examples below:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x"><em>是</em> 在 咖啡店 认识 <em>的</em> <strong>我 男朋友</strong> <span class="trans">I met my boyfriend in a cafe.</span></li>
+
<li class="o">我们 <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> 开 <strong>会</strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>yòng Skype</strong> kāi <strong>huì</strong> <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We had a meeting by Skype.</span></li>
<li class="o"><em>是</em> 在 咖啡店 认识 <strong>我 男朋友</strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>shì</em> zài kāfēi diàn rènshi <strong>wǒ nánpéngyou</strong> <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I met my boyfriend in a cafe.</span></li>
+
<li class="o">我们 <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> <em>的</em> <strong>会</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>yòng Skype</strong> kāi <em>de</em> <strong>huì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We had a meeting by Skype.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
As you can see, when the verb is followed by an object, 的 can go before ''or'' after the object. Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the first the sentence could be referring to either a specific event in the past or habitual actions.
 +
 +
Take a look at these two sentences which remove the ambiguity by including a bit more information about the timeframe:
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* <strong>那次</strong> 我们  <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> 开 <strong>会</strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Nà cì</strong> wǒmen <em>shì</em> <strong>yòng Skype</strong> kāi <strong>huì</strong> <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">That time we had the meeting by Skype.</span>
 +
* 我们 <strong>平时</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> 开 <strong>会</strong> <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>píngshí</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>yòng Skype</strong> kāi <strong>huì</strong> <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We usually have meetings by Skype.</span>
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</div>
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For the most part, you should be fine regularly putting 的 at the end of your 是……的 sentences. Just be aware that there is some potential for ambiguity in certain situations. If you don't want to move 的 around, then including a bit of extra information about time can keep things clear.
  
 
== Completed Action ==
 
== 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.
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It's important to note that while the 是⋯⋯的 construction also indicates that an action has been completed, this is not the ''purpose'' of a 是⋯⋯的 construction. The completed action part is more like a ''prerequisite'' for using 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 certain details of a completed action.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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*[[的 (modal particle)]]
 
*[[的 (modal particle)]]
 
*[[Adding emphasis with "jiushi"]]
 
*[[Adding emphasis with "jiushi"]]
*[[Uses of "shi" with "de"]]
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*[[The "shi... de" patterns: an overview]]
*[[Indicating purpose or intent using "shi...de"]]
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*[[The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose]]
  
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|114}}
 
{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|577-9}}
 
{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|577-9}}
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|54-5}}  
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|54-5}}  
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* 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]
 
* 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]
 
  
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category:Structures]]
 
[[Category:Structures]]
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|是⋯⋯ 的|你 <em>是</em> 怎么 来 <em>的</em>?|grammar point|ASG8YTSF}}
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{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|是⋯⋯ 的|你 <em>是</em> 怎么 来 <em>的</em>?|grammar point|ASGE662E}}
{{Similar|Indicating purpose or intent using "shi...de"}}
+
{{Similar|The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose}}
 +
{{Similar|The "shi... de" patterns: an overview}}
 
{{Similar|的 (modal particle)}}
 
{{Similar|的 (modal particle)}}
{{Similar|Uses of "shi" with "de"}}
 
 
{{Rel char|的}}
 
{{Rel char|的}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

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 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 or telling details about the past.

This use of 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) is usually emphasized in textbooks over other uses, and therefore is sometimes called the "classic" 是⋯⋯的 construction.

When to Use It

Even if you understand that 了 is not used to mark "past tense" in Chinese, it's possible that you incorrectly use it that way sometimes. For example, what if you want to ask a question about something that happened in the past? Would you ever say one of the following sentences?

  • 你 昨天 几点Nǐ zuótiān jǐ diǎn dào le?What time did you arrive yesterday?
  • 你 跟 Nǐ gēn shéile?Who did you go with?
  • 用 什么 打 你 yòng shénme dǎ nǐ le?What did he use to hit you?

In each of these sentences above, 了 is not the right choice, because you're not asking if an event happened or not. You're asking about details of past events. When you are singling out details for emphasis--in a question or a statement--you need to use the 是⋯⋯的 construction.

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。Zuótiān wǒ qù Hángzhōu le.I went to Hangzhou yesterday.
  • B: 怎么shì zěnmede?How did you get there?
  • A: 坐 火车shì zuò huǒchē de.I went by train.

Now let's revisit those other three sentences and ask the questions correctly with 是⋯⋯的:

  • 你 昨天 几点Nǐ zuótiān shì jǐ diǎn dào de?What time did you arrive yesterday?
  • 跟 谁shì gēn shéi de?Who did you go with?
  • 用 什么 打 你 shì yòng shénme dǎ nǐ de?What did he use to hit you?

Affirmative Form

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

  • A: 你们 什么 时候Emphasizing "when"Nǐmen shì shénme shíhou dào de?When did you guys arrive?
  • B: 我们 昨天"Yesterday" is emphasized.Wǒmen shì zuótiān dào de.We arrived yesterday.
  • A: 在 哪儿 出生 "Where" is emphasized.shì zài nǎr chūshēng de?Where were you born?
  • B: 在 香港 出生 "In Hong Kong" is emphasized.shì zài Xiānggǎng chūshēng de.I was born in Hong Kong.

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.

  • A:骑 自行车 吗 ?Emphasizing "by bike"qí zìxíngchē lái de ma?Did you come by bike?
  • B:Emphasizing "by foot"zǒu lái de.I came by foot.
  • A: 告诉 你 Emphasizing "who"Shéi gàosu nǐ de?Who told you?
  • B: 一 个 同事 告诉 我 Emphasizing "a colleague"Yī gè tóngshì gàosu wǒ de.A colleague 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.

Negative Form

是⋯⋯的 sentences can only be negated with 不, as 没 can not be used to negate 是. Remember that you need both the 不 and the 是 together to make the correct negative form.

Some examples:

  • 他们 不是 在 网上 认识 Tāmen bù shì zài wǎngshàng rènshi de.They didn't meet online.
  • 不是 跟 我们 一起bù shì gēn wǒmen yīqǐde.He didn't go with us.
  • 坐 地铁The 是 is missing zuò dìtiě lái de.I didn't come by metro.
  • 在 中国 出生 The 是 is missing zài Zhōngguó chūshēng de. I wasn't born in China.

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 second sentence, the implication is that 他 didn't go with 我们, 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:

Some examples:

  • 用 邮件 回复 吗 ?吗 is a question particleyòng yóujiàn huífù de ma?Did she reply by email?
  • 你们 是 不 是 去年 认识 是不是 is an affirmative-negative patternNǐmen shì bu shì qùnián rènshi de?Did you meet each other last year?
  • 这个 东西 多少钱多少 is a question wordZhège dōngxi duōshao qián mǎi de?How much did you buy this thing for?

Is 是 always optional?

Generally, 是 can be omitted, and the meaning will not change. However, in a small number of cases, omitting 是 will make it unclear which part of the sentence is being emphasized. In these cases, 是 clearly indicates which words are being emphasized. Take a look at this example:

  • 你 上周 和 他 去 北京 吗 ?Nǐ shàng zhōu hé tā qù Běijīng de ma?Did you go to Beijing with him last weekend?

This sentence could emphasize 上周 (time), or 和他 (part of the subject). A simple 是 can make clear which one the speaker is emphasizing.

  • 上周 和 他 去 北京 吗 ?上周 is emphasizedshì shàng zhōu hé tā qù Běijīng de ma?Was it last week that you went to Beijing with him?
  • 你 上周 和他 去 北京 吗 ?和他 is emphasizedNǐ shàng zhōu shì hé tā qù Běijīng de ma?Was it him that you went to Beijing with last week?

Position of 的

Until now we've said that the 的 appears at the end of the sentence in a 是⋯⋯的 construction. This is very often the case. However, it can actually appear in one of two places. Take a look at the examples below:

  • 我们 用 Skype Wǒmen shì yòng Skype kāi huì de.We had a meeting by Skype.
  • 我们 用 Skype Wǒmen shì yòng Skype kāi de huì.We had a meeting by Skype.

As you can see, when the verb is followed by an object, 的 can go before or after the object. Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the first the sentence could be referring to either a specific event in the past or habitual actions.

Take a look at these two sentences which remove the ambiguity by including a bit more information about the timeframe:

  • 那次 我们 用 Skype Nà cì wǒmen shì yòng Skype kāi huì de.That time we had the meeting by Skype.
  • 我们 平时 用 Skype Wǒmen píngshí shì yòng Skype kāi huì de.We usually have meetings by Skype.

For the most part, you should be fine regularly putting 的 at the end of your 是……的 sentences. Just be aware that there is some potential for ambiguity in certain situations. If you don't want to move 的 around, then including a bit of extra information about time can keep things clear.

Completed Action

It's important to note that while the 是⋯⋯的 construction also indicates that an action has been completed, this is not the purpose of a 是⋯⋯的 construction. The completed action part is more like a prerequisite for using 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 certain details of a completed action.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites