Use 是 shì … 的 de to shine a spotlight on one detail of something that already happened: when it happened, where, how, or who with. You’ll use it all the time to explain things, to correct someone, or to ask for details.
一 Key Points
Before you start, here are the key things to know about 是 shì … 的 de:
It’s used for past events. The action has already happened; you’re just focusing on a detail of it.
Since both people already know what happened, the object is often dropped.
是 shì is usually optional, and people often leave it out. The one time you must keep it is in the negative.
To make it negative, use 不是 búshì, never 不 bù + the verb.
To ask a question, add 嗎 ma吗 ma at the end, or use 是不是 shì bú shì instead of 是 shì.
二 The Basic Pattern
Subject + 是 + Detail + Verb + 的 (+ Object)
Put the detail you want to emphasize right after 是 shì, and 的 de after the verb. The object can go after 的 de, before it, or be dropped.
我是昨天喝的咖啡
It was yesterday that I drank the coffee.
Emphasizing the time.
我是在那家咖啡店喝的咖啡
It was at that café that I had the coffee.
Emphasizing the place.
我是走路去喝的咖啡
I walked there to get coffee.
Emphasizing how.
我是跟弟弟喝的咖啡
It was with my brother that I had coffee.
Emphasizing who with.
Object + 是 + Subject + Verb + 的
To emphasize who did it, start with the object and put the person right after 是 shì.
咖啡是我喝的
It was me! I drank the coffee.
三 Explaining a Situation
Use 是 shì … 的 de to explain why something is the way it is by pointing to the detail that matters.
不要看我，那是你弟弟弄壞弄坏的，不是我弄壞弄坏的！
Don’t look at me! Your brother broke it, not me!
A為什麼为什么家裡家里會会有新的 PS5？
Why is there a new PS5 in the house?
B(是)朋友朋友送我的，不是我買买的！
A friend gave it to me! I didn’t buy it!
桌上的咖啡不要喝，那是昨天煮的
Don’t drink the coffee on the table. It was made yesterday.
四 Correcting Someone
Someone got a detail wrong? 是 shì … 的 de is perfect for setting the record straight.
A你中文這麼这么好，一定來来台灣台湾很久了！
Your Chinese is so good! You must have been in Taiwan for a long time!
B呃⋯其實其实我是兩天两天前來来的
Uh… actually, I got here two days ago.
A你說说你家在英格蘭英格兰的哪裡哪里？
Where in England did you say you’re from?
B我(是)從从蘇格蘭苏格兰來来的！
I’m from Scotland!
A你這次这次要跟男朋友男朋友一起一块儿去韓國韩国玩幾天几天？
How many days are you and your boyfriend going to Korea for this time?
B五天，不過不过我這次这次(是)一個人一个人去的！
Five days, but I’m going by myself this time!
Here the trip is still coming up, but the plan is already settled, so 是 shì … 的 de works.
五 Asking for Details
Want to know a specific detail? Put the question word right after 是 shì.
你中文是在哪裡哪里學学的？
Where did you learn Chinese?
你(是)怎麼怎么知道的？
How did you find out?
是不是王先生跟你說说的？
Was it Mr. Wang who told you?
六 Where Should the Object Go?
Putting the object before or after 的 de usually means the same thing, but sometimes it can make a sentence sound silly.
他是昨天買买的豬猪
“It was yesterday that he bought a pig.” OR… “He is the pig that was bought yesterday.” 🥴
他是昨天買买豬猪的
“It was yesterday that he bought a pig.” OR… “He’s the one who bought the pig yesterday.”
Don’t worry too muchIs there a way to avoid this? Honestly, not really. Even native speakers run into it. Just say what you mean and people will understand, even if they tease you a little!
七 了 vs. 是⋯的
All three of these mean “When did you come to Taiwan?”, but each one carries a different feeling.
你什麼什么時候时候來来台灣台湾了？
When did you get to Taiwan?
The speaker is a little surprised. They didn’t expect you to be in Taiwan already.
你什麼什么時候时候來来了台灣台湾？
When was it that you came to Taiwan?
The speaker knows you’ve already been and gone.
你是什麼什么時候时候來来台灣台湾的？
When exactly did you come to Taiwan?
The speaker wants the specific time. This is the one you’ll hear from a curious friend, a suspicious partner, or a police officer! 👮
八 Common Mistakes
❌ 我是坐飛機飞机來来了的
✅ 我是坐飛機飞机來来的
是 shì … 的 de already tells you it happened in the past, so don’t add 了 le.
❌ 我是不昨天來来的
✅ 我不是昨天來来的
To make it negative, put 不 bù right before 是 shì: 不是 búshì.
❌ 我是明天去的
✅ 我明天要去
是 shì … 的 de is for things that have already happened. For plans, just say what you’re going to do.
九 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I came to Taiwan last year.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我是去年來来台灣台湾的
Putting 台灣 Táiwān台湾 Táiwān after 的 de, or dropping 是 shì, is also correct.
The time (去年 qùnián) is the detail being emphasized, so it comes right after 是 shì. The 了 le tile is a trap.
“He came by plane.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他是坐飛機飞机來来的
Dropping 是 shì is also correct.
Emphasizing how he came.
“Where did you buy this?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這個这个你是在哪裡哪里買买的？
你這個是在哪裡買的你这个是在哪里买的, putting 這個 zhège这个 zhège after 的 de, or dropping 是 shì is also correct.
The question word 在哪裡 zài nǎlǐ在哪里 zài nǎli goes right after 是 shì.
“I didn’t come with him.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我不是跟他來来的
The negative is always 不是 búshì. The 沒 méi没 méi tile is a trap.
