Chinese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
是…的: focusing on details
How 是…的 focuses on when, where, how or with whom a past event happened, where the object goes, and 是…的 for emphasis.
Focusing on the details
Once both speakers know that something happened, Chinese uses 是…的 to ask and talk about its details: when, where, how, with whom, what for. goes right before the detail, at the end: (Nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de?), when did you come? (wǒ shì zuótiān lái de), I came yesterday.
Use it only for events in the past that are already known. To say that something happened at all, use 了: (tā lái le), he's here. Then ask about the details: (tā shì zuò huǒchē lái de), he came by train.
| Detail | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| when | (Nín shì nǎ nián lái Běijīng de?) | (Wǒ shì yī jiǔ liù wǔ nián lái de.) |
| where | (Nǐ shì zài nǎr rènshi tā de?) | (Shì zài dàxué rènshi de.) |
| how | (Nǐmen shì zěnme lái de?) | (Wǒmen shì zuò huǒchē lái de.) |
| with whom | (Nǐ shì gēn shéi yìqǐ qù de?) | (Shì gēn wǒ nǎinai yìqǐ qù de.) |
| what for | (Nǐ shì lái lǚyóu de ma?) | (Bú shì, wǒ shì lái chūchāi de.) |
Leaving out 是, and the negative
In statements and questions, is often left out: (wǒ zuótiān lái de). It stays in the negative, which is 不是…的: (wǒ bú shì zuò fēijī lái de), I didn't come by plane.
- 这件衣服是在哪儿买的？Zhè jiàn yīfu shì zài nǎr mǎi de?Where did you buy this?
- 我们是二〇〇八年结婚的。Wǒmen shì èr líng líng bā nián jiéhūn de.We got married in 2008.
- 我不是一个人去的，是跟朋友一起去的。Wǒ bú shì yí ge rén qù de, shì gēn péngyou yìqǐ qù de.I didn't go alone, I went with friends.
Where the object goes
With an object, often comes before it, especially in speech: (wǒ shì zài Běijīng xué de Zhōngwén), I learned Chinese in Beijing. (wǒ shì zài Běijīng xué Zhōngwén de) is also correct. If the object is a pronoun, goes at the end: (wǒ shì zài huǒchē shang rènshi tā de), I met him on the train.
- 您是什么时候开的这家饭馆？Nín shì shénme shíhou kāi de zhè jiā fànguǎn?When did you open this restaurant?
- 我是在网上买的票。Wǒ shì zài wǎngshang mǎi de piào.I bought the ticket online.
Focusing on who did it
To focus on who did something, put (shì) before the person: (shì wǒ fù de qián), it was me who paid. The question is 是谁…的？: (Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?), who told you?
For the details of a future plan, don't use 是…的; just use a question word: (Nǐ míngtiān jǐ diǎn zǒu?), what time are you leaving tomorrow?
- 是谁告诉你的？Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?Who told you?
- 是我打的电话，不是我妈妈。Shì wǒ dǎ de diànhuà, bú shì wǒ māma.It was me who phoned, not my mum.
- 这张照片是我弟弟拍的。Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shì wǒ dìdi pāi de.My younger brother took this photo.
是…的 for emphasis (B2)
Outside the past, 是…的 can stress that a statement is true and firm, to reassure, convince or insist: (zhège fāng'àn shì kěxíng de), this plan is definitely feasible; (wǒ shì bú huì tóngyì de), I will never agree. It's common in presentations and discussions.
- 这些数据是很清楚的。Zhèxiē shùjù shì hěn qīngchu de.These figures are very clear.
- 你放心，他是会来的。Nǐ fàngxīn, tā shì huì lái de.Don't worry, he will come.
- 学好中文是完全可能的。Xuéhǎo Zhōngwén shì wánquán kěnéng de.Learning Chinese well is entirely possible.