是 shì … 的 de Structure 1

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OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

是 shì … 的 de Structure 1 — emphasizing details of the past

The 是 shì … 的 de structure puts the spotlight on one detail of something that already happened: the time, the place, the way it was done, or who did it.

是 shì … 的 de Chinese grammar

Both speakers already know the event happened. What matters is the detail: when, where, how, or with whom. That’s why it’s so useful for answering questions and adding detail in conversation.

1When to use it?

  • To explain a situation by emphasizing a particular detail
  • To correct a piece of information
  • To ask for a specific piece of information

2What do I need to know?

  • It’s used for past events.
  • Both the speaker and the listener already know what the object is, so the object is often dropped.
  • 是 shì is usually optional and often left out. It’s only required in the negative form.
  • To negate it, put 不 bù before 是 shì, never before the verb.
  • To ask a question, add 吗 ma at the end, or replace 是 shì with 是不是 shì bú shì.

3Structure

S + 是 shì + detail + V + 的 de (+ O)

The object can go before 的 de, after it, or be dropped altogether.

Subject是 shìDetailV的 de(O)
我 wǒ是 shì昨天 zuótiānIt was yesterday that I drank the coffee.喝 hē的 de(咖啡 kāfēi)
我 wǒ是 shì在那家咖啡店 zài nà jiā kāfēidiànIt was at that café that I drank the coffee.喝 hē的 de(咖啡 kāfēi)
我 wǒ是 shì走路去 zǒulù qùI walked there to drink the coffee.喝 hē的 de(咖啡 kāfēi)
我 wǒ是 shì跟弟弟 gēn dìdiIt was with my younger brother that I drank the coffee.喝 hē的 de(咖啡 kāfēi)
📌 Emphasizing the person

To stress who did it, put the object first, then 是 shì + the person.

咖啡kāfēi是shì我wǒ喝hē的de
It was me! I drank the coffee.

Explaining a situation

不bú要yào看kàn我wǒ，那nà是shì你nǐ弟弟dìdi弄坏nònghuài的de，不bú是shì我wǒ弄坏nònghuài的de
Don’t look at me. It was your brother who broke it, not me.
桌zhuō上shang的de咖啡kāfēi不bú要yào喝hē，那nà是shì昨天zuótiān煮zhǔ的de
Don’t drink the coffee on the table. It was made yesterday.
A
为什么wèishénme家里jiāli会huì有yǒu新xīn的dePS5？
Why is there a new PS5 at home?
B
(是)(shì)朋友péngyou送sòng我wǒ的de，不bú是shì我wǒ买mǎi的de！
A friend gave it to me. I didn’t buy it!

Correcting information

A
你nǐ中文zhōngwén这么zhème好hǎo，一定yídìng来lái台湾Táiwān很hěn久jiǔ了le！
Your Chinese is so good, you must have been in Taiwan for a long time!
B
呃è⋯⋯其实qíshí我wǒ是shì两liǎng天tiān前qián来lái的de
Uh… actually, I only arrived two days ago.
A
你nǐ说shuō你nǐ家jiā在zài英格兰Yīnggélán的de哪里nǎlǐ？
Where in England did you say your home is?
B
我wǒ(是)(shì)从cóng苏格兰Sūgélán来lái的de！
I’m from Scotland!
A
你nǐ这次zhècì要yào跟gēn男朋友nánpéngyou一起yìqǐ去qù韩国Hánguó玩wán几jǐ天tiān？
How many days are you going to Korea with your boyfriend this time?
B
5wǔ天tiān，不bú过guò我wǒ这次zhècì(是)(shì)一yí个ge人rén去qù的de！
Five days. But this time I’m going alone!

Asking for specific information

你nǐ中文zhōngwén是shì在zài哪里nǎlǐ学xué的de？
Where did you learn Chinese?
你nǐ(是)(shì)怎么zěnme知道zhīdào的de？
How did you find out?
是shì不bú是shì王Wáng先生xiānsheng跟gēn你nǐ说shuō的de？
Was it Mr. Wang who told you?

4Where to place the object

Earlier we said the object can go before or after 的 de. That’s mostly true, but in some sentences it can cause confusion: the subject might sound like the object!

他tā是shì昨天zuótiān买mǎi的de猪zhū
“It was yesterday that he bought a pig” … or “He is the pig that was bought yesterday.” 🥴
The object after 的 de makes the sentence ambiguous.
他tā是shì昨天zuótiān买mǎi猪zhū的de
“It was yesterday that he bought a pig” or “He’s the one who bought a pig yesterday.”
With the object before 的 de, at least he’s no longer the pig.
💡 Don’t worry too much

Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do about this. Even native speakers run into it. Just say what you mean and people will understand, even if they tease you a little!

5了 le vs. 是 shì … 的 de

你nǐ什么shénme时候shíhou来lái台湾Táiwān了le？
When did you come to Taiwan?
With 了 le at the end, the speaker is a little surprised the person is already in Taiwan. You wouldn’t use it to ask a foreigner who speaks good Chinese, because you didn’t expect them to be here.
你nǐ什么shénme时候shíhou来lái了le台湾Táiwān？
When did you come to Taiwan?
With 了 le right after the verb, the speaker knows the person has already been to Taiwan and left.
你nǐ是shì什么shénme时候shíhou来lái台湾Táiwān的de？
When did you come to Taiwan?
With 是 shì … 的 de, the speaker is interested in the exact time of arrival. It’s what couples ask each other about their whereabouts, or what police ask suspects. 👀

6Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ是shì不bú昨天zuótiān来lái的de
✅ 我wǒ不bú是shì昨天zuótiān来lái的de
To negate, 不 bù goes before 是 shì, not before the detail or the verb.
❌ 我wǒ是shì明天míngtiān去qù的de
✅ 我wǒ明天míngtiān去qù
是 shì … 的 de is for events that have already happened. For future plans, just use a normal sentence.

7Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01When did you arrive?
你nǐ是shì什么shénme时候shíhou到dào的de？
👆 Tap to reveal
02I came by MRT.
我wǒ是shì坐zuò地铁dìtiě来lái的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
03Who did you come with?
你nǐ是shì跟gēn谁shéi一起yìqǐ来lái的de？
👆 Tap to reveal
04This bag was bought in Japan.
这zhè个ge包bāo是shì在zài日本Rìběn买mǎi的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
05She didn’t come yesterday. She came the day before.
她tā不bú是shì昨天zuótiān来lái的de，是shì前天qiántiān来lái的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
06Did you make this cake?
这zhè个ge蛋糕dàngāo是shì你nǐ做zuò的de吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
07How did you get here?
你nǐ是shì怎么zěnme来lái的de？
👆 Tap to reveal
08I learned Chinese in Taipei.
我wǒ是shì在zài台北Táiběi学xué的de中文zhōngwén。
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→了₁ le — completed action(HSK 1) →了₂ le — new situation(HSK 2) →Strong Affirmation — 是 shì … 的 de Structure 2(HSK 3)

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