In Structure 1, 是是 shì … 的的 de highlighted a detail of a past event. Here it wraps around a whole statement to say “this is definitely how it is.” It’s also used to talk about jobs and purposes.

1When to use it?

• To emphasize that something will or won’t happen
• To talk about someone’s job in a casual way
• To show a purpose or intent

2What do I need to know?

• 是是 shì is usually optional and often left out. It’s only required in the negative form.
• To negate it, put 不不 bù before the modal verb (能能 néng, 會会 huì, 可以可以 kěyǐ), not before 是是 shì.
• To ask a question, you can only add 嗎吗 ma at the end. 是不是是不是 shì bú shì doesn’t work here.

3Structure

是是 shì + 能能 néng / 會会 huì / 可以可以 kěyǐ + V + 的的 de

Emphasizes that something will, won’t, or shouldn’t happen.

S + 是是 shì + Job + 的的 de

A casual way to say what kind of work someone does: literally “someone who does…”

S + 是是 shì + 來来 lái / 去去 qù + V + 的的 de

To show a purpose or intent, 是是 shì … 的的 de often goes together with 來来 lái or 去去 qù: “came / went (somewhere) to do something.”

Thing + 是是 shì + 用來用来 yònglái + V + 的的 de

When the subject is a thing, 用來用来 yònglái (“used for”) shows its purpose.

4Common Mistakes

5Practice

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