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>
 
<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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<ul class="dialog">
 
<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 arrive?</span></li>
+
<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>
 
<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>
 
</ul>
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<ul class="dialog">
 
<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 was it that told you? </span></li>
+
<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">It was a colleague that told me.</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>
 
</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 here as it's being negated.
 
  
 
Some examples:
 
Some examples:
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<ul>
 
<ul>
 
<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>
 
<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>
<li class="o">他 <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 together with us.</span></li>
+
<li class="o">他 <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> 来 <em>的</em> 。<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>坐 地铁</strong> 来 <em>的</em> 。<span class="expl">The 是 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="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>zài Zhōngguó</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>. </span><span class="trans">I wasn't born in China.</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">Wǒ <em>bù</em> <strong>zài Zhōngguó</strong> chūshēng <em>de</em>. </span><span class="trans">I wasn't born in China.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
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<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.
 
  
Some examples:
+
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:  
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
<ul>
+
* 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>
<li class="o">我们 <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> 开 <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></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>
 
</ul>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</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">
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="o"><em>是</em> <strong></strong> <em>的</em> <strong>空调</strong> <span class="pinyin"><em>Shì</em> <strong>shéi</strong> kāi <em>de</em> <strong>kōngtiáo</strong>?</span></li>
+
<li class="o"><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>
<li class="o"><em>是</em> <strong></strong> <strong>空调</strong> <em></em> <span class="pinyin"><em>Shì</em> <strong>shéi</strong> kāi <strong>kōngtiáo</strong> <em>de</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who turned on the air conditioner?</span></li>
+
<li class="o">你 上周 <em>是</em> <strong>和他</strong> 去 北京 <em></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>
 
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that if the object is a personal pronoun, goes 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="q"><em>是</em> <strong>昨天</strong> <em></em> <strong></strong> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> jiàn <em>de</em> <strong></strong> ma?</span></li>
+
<li class="o">我们 <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> <strong></strong> <em></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> <strong>昨天</strong> <strong></strong> <em></em> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>shì</em> <strong>zuótiān</strong> jiàn <strong></strong> <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Is it yesterday you had a meeting with the client?</span></li>
+
<li class="o">我们 <em>是</em> <strong>用 Skype</strong> <em></em> <strong></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>
  
<ul>
+
</div>
<li class="o">我 <em>是</em> <strong>在 图书馆 </strong> 认识 <em>的</em> <strong>我 男朋友</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài túshūguǎn</strong> rènshi <em>de</em> <strong>wǒ nánpéngyou</strong> .</span></li>
+
 
<li class="o">我 <em>是</em> <strong>在 图书馆 </strong> 认识 <strong>我 男朋友</strong> <em></em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>zài túshūguǎn</strong> rènshi <strong>wǒ nánpéngyou</strong> <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">It was in the library that I met my boyfriend.</span></li>
+
As you can see, when the verb is followed by an object, 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.
</ul>
+
 
 +
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>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
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.
+
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"]]
+
*[[The "shi... de" patterns: an overview]]
*[[Indicating purpose or intent using "shi...de"]]
+
*[[The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose]]
  
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
 +
{{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]
 
  
 +
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{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}}
+
{{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