Difference between revisions of "The "shi... de" construction for indicating purpose"

m (Text replacement - "{{HSK|HSK2}}" to "{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}")
 
(61 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Grammar Box}}
+
{{Grammar Box}}  
{{Stub}}
 
  
There are many ways to explain why you are doing something. This article will explain another way to do that, and it just happens to involve "...".  
+
There are many ways to explain why you are doing something or what an object is used for. One of the more natural ways just happens to involve 是⋯⋯的. This is a different usage from the [[The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details|"classic" 是⋯⋯的 pattern]].
  
== Structure ==
+
== A Person as Subject ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
If the subject is a person, there is often a 来 or 去 after the 是, indicating direction like "coming here" or "going there."
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Person + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb+ 的
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*我 <em>是</em> <strong>来</strong> 玩 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shì</em> <strong>lái</strong> wán <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">I came for fun.</span>
 +
*我们 都 <em>是</em> <strong>去</strong> 出差 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>shì</em> <strong>qù</strong> chūchāi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are all going on business trips.</span>
 +
*他们 都 <em>是</em> <strong>来</strong> 实习 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen dōu <em>shì</em> <strong>lái</strong> shíxí <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">They all came here to do internships.</span>
 +
*你 真的 <em>是</em> <strong>来</strong> 帮 我们 <em>的</em> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ zhēnde  <em>shì</em> <strong>lái</strong> bāng wǒmen <em>de</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you really here to help us? </span>
 +
*我们 不 <em>是</em> <strong>去</strong> 玩 <em>的</em> ,<em>是</em> <strong>去</strong> 做 调查 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen bù <em>shì</em> <strong>qù</strong> wán <em>de</em>, <em>shì</em> <strong>qù</strong> zuò diàochá <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">We're not going for fun. We're going to do research.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== A Thing as Subject ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
If the subject is a thing, 用来 is often used. Look at the examples below for some more clarification.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb + 的
 +
</div>
  
Subject + 是 + Reason/Purpose + 的
+
or
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Thing + 是 + 给 + Person + Verb + 的
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
It is important to note, that when this is the form you are working with, the "是" isn't always necessary. You could say the same thing without the "是" but you would still need to have the "的" at the end of the phrase.
+
=== Examples ===
  
==Examples==
+
<div class="liju">
  
'''NEEDS EXAMPLES'''
+
*这 种 菜 <em>是</em> <strong>用来</strong> 做 汤 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng cài <em>shì</em> <strong>yònglái</strong> zuò tāng <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">This kind of vegetable is for making soup.</span>
 +
*这个 房间 <em>是</em> <strong>给</strong> 客人 住 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège fángjiān <em>shì</em> <strong>gěi</strong> kèrén zhù <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">This room is for our guest to stay in.</span>
 +
*这些 钱 <em>是</em> <strong>给</strong> 孩子 上 大学 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē qián <em>shì</em> <strong>gěi</strong> háizi shàng dàxué <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">This money is for our child's college education.</span>
 +
*这些 礼物 <em>是</em> <strong>给</strong> 客户 准备 <em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē lǐwù <em>shì</em> <strong>gěi</strong> kèhù zhǔnbèi <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">These presents have been prepared for the clients.</span>
 +
*钱 <em>是</em> <strong>用来</strong> 花 <em>的</em> ,不 <em>是</em> <strong>用来</strong> 省<em>的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Qián <em>shì</em> <strong>yònglái</strong> huā <em>de</em>, bù <em>shì</em> <strong>yònglái</strong> shěng <em>de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Money is for spending, not for saving.</span>
  
==See Also==
+
</div>
*[[Uses of "shi...de"]]
 
  
 +
== See also ==
 +
 +
*[[The "shi... de" patterns: an overview]]
 +
*[[The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details]]
 +
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|28}}
 +
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Structures]]
 
[[Category:Structures]]
 +
{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|是⋯⋯ 的|我 <em>是</em> 来 上海 旅游 <em>的</em> 。|grammar point|ASG0UFR4}}
 +
{{Rel char|的}}
 
{{Similar|的 (modal particle)}}
 
{{Similar|的 (modal particle)}}
 +
{{Similar|The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details}}
 +
{{Similar|The "shi... de" patterns: an overview}}
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing purpose}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing purpose}}
{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|是… 的|我 <em>是</em> 来 工作 <em>的</em>.|grammar point|NEEDCODE}}
 
{{Rel char|的}}
 
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 08:55, 21 April 2021

There are many ways to explain why you are doing something or what an object is used for. One of the more natural ways just happens to involve 是⋯⋯的. This is a different usage from the "classic" 是⋯⋯的 pattern.

A Person as Subject

Structure

If the subject is a person, there is often a 来 or 去 after the 是, indicating direction like "coming here" or "going there."

Person + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb+ 的

Examples

  • shì lái wán de.I came for fun.
  • 我们 都 出差 Wǒmen dōu shì chūchāi de.We are all going on business trips.
  • 他们 都 实习 Tāmen dōu shì lái shíxí de.They all came here to do internships.
  • 你 真的 帮 我们 吗 ? Nǐ zhēnde shì lái bāng wǒmen de ma?Are you really here to help us?
  • 我们 不 做 调查 Wǒmen bù shì wán de, shì zuò diàochá de.We're not going for fun. We're going to do research.

A Thing as Subject

Structure

If the subject is a thing, 用来 is often used. Look at the examples below for some more clarification.

Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb + 的

or

Thing + 是 + 给 + Person + Verb + 的

Examples

  • 这 种 菜 用来 做 汤 Zhè zhǒng cài shì yònglái zuò tāng de.This kind of vegetable is for making soup.
  • 这个 房间 客人 住 Zhège fángjiān shì gěi kèrén zhù de.This room is for our guest to stay in.
  • 这些 钱 孩子 上 大学 Zhèxiē qián shì gěi háizi shàng dàxué de.This money is for our child's college education.
  • 这些 礼物 客户 准备 Zhèxiē lǐwù shì gěi kèhù zhǔnbèi de.These presents have been prepared for the clients.
  • 用来 ,不 用来Qián shì yònglái huā de, bù shì yònglái shěng de.Money is for spending, not for saving.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books