是…的 (advanced)
HSK 3- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 是…的 is used to emphasize the doer or the means/manner of an action that has already occurred.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is an advanced use of the 是…的 structure, which not only emphasizes time and place, but also focuses on the agent (who did it) or the means/manner (how it was done) of a completed action.
This structure is particularly useful when asking about or clarifying who did something or how it was done. In affirmative sentences, 是 may be omitted, but in negative sentences (不是…的) it is obligatory.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这本书是他写的。繁: 這本書是他寫的。Zhè běn shū shì tā xiě de.
This book was written by him.
- 我是坐飞机来的。繁: 我是坐飛機來的。Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.
I came here by airplane.
- 这件事不是我做的。繁: 這件事不是我做的。Zhè jiàn shì bú shì wǒ zuò de.
This matter is not something I did.
- 他是用手机付钱的。繁: 他是用手機付錢的。Tā shì yòng shǒujī fùqián de.
He paid with his mobile phone.
- 是谁告诉你的？繁: 是誰告訴你的？Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de?
Who told you that?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:这本书是他写。Correct:这本书是他写的。
The emphatic structure 是…的 always requires 的 at the end of the sentence to complete the structure; omitting 的 makes the sentence unnatural.
- Wrong:我是坐飞机来了。Correct:我是坐飞机来的。
In the 是…的 structure, 的 is used at the end of the sentence to indicate a past action; 了 is not used.