In this video lesson we'll learn when and how to use the 是...的 Sentence Structure in Chinese - The "Shi...De" Sentence Structure in Mandarin.
The "Shi...De" Sentence Structure in Mandarin is called “是……的”句 shì...de jù, The 是...的 Sentence Structure.
It’s a special Sentence Structure, and it is the most important sentence structure in Chinese HSK 1 grammar.
Basically, when both the speaker and the listener know that an event has already happened, and some further detail needs to be talked about. We use the 是...的 Sentence Structure to focus on the extra information we want to know. And whatever between 是…的 is the FOCUS information of the sentence.
For Chinese sentences that have a Verb Predicate (and an Object that's optional), the typical main structure of the sentence runs like this,
But for sentences with the 是...的 Sentence Structure, it runs like this,
It can be used in Questions as well as in Declarative Sentences. For example,
(1) A Positive Declarative Sentence
(2) A Negative Declarative Sentence
(3) A General Yes-or-no Question
(4) A Special Question
The FOCUS INFORMATION here can be mainly categorized in to three different types,
We'll discuss them one by one.
We can put a Time Word between 是...的 to emphasize Time "When", following this structure,
For example,
Q: nǐ shì shénme shíhou kāishǐ xuéde Hànyǔ
你是什么时候开始学的汉语?
you -shi- when start to learn-de- Chinese
A: wǒ shì qùnián jiǔyuè kāishǐ xuéde Hànyǔ
我是去年九月开始学的汉语。
I -shi- last year September start to learn-de- Chinese
Q: Běijīng shì shàngge xīngqīwǔ xiàde xuě ma
北京是上个星期五下的雪吗?
Beijing -shi- last Friday down -de- snow -ma
A: bùshì, Běijīng shì shàngzhōusì xiàde xuě
不是,北京是上周四下的雪。
no, Beijing -shi- last Thursday down -de- snow
We can put a "Place Word" between 是...的 to emphasize Place "Where". The "Place Word" here doesn't have to be a real "place", it can be something more abstract, for example a website, in a book... We can follow this structure,
For example,
Q: nǐ shì zài nǎr kàndebìng
你是在哪儿看的病?
you -shi- where diagnose-de- sickness
A: wǒ shì zài nàge yīyuàn kàndebìng
我是在那个医院看的病。
I -shi- in that "ge" hospital diagnose-de- sickness
Q: nǐ shì zài yīyuàn chīdeyào ma
你是在医院吃的药吗?
you -shi- at hospital eat -de- medicine
A: wǒ shì zài yīyuàn chīdeyào
我是在医院吃的药。
I -shi- at hospital eat -de- medicine
We can put a phrase that explains "manner or method" between 是...的 to emphasize Manner "how", following this structure,
For example,
Q: nǐ shì zěnme zhīdào de
你是怎么知道的?
you -shi- how know -de-
A: wǒ shì shàngwǎng zhīdào de
我是上网知道的。
I -shi- go on the Internet know-de-
Q: nǐ shì yòng zhètái kāfēijī zuòde kāfēi ma
你是用这台咖啡机做的咖啡吗?
you -shi- use this "tai" coffee maker make -de- coffee
A: búshì, wǒ shì yòng nàtái kāfēijī zuòde kāfēi
不是,我是用那台咖啡机做的咖啡。
no, I -shi- use that "tai" coffee maker make -de- coffee
We can put more than one Focus Information between 是...的 as well, emphasizing Time, Place and Manner altogether. For example,
If the Object in the sentence is a Personal Pronoun, it does not go after 的, it’s always before 的 and closely tied to its verb, with this structure,
For example,
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