是……的

是……的

shì … de

emphasis

The shì … de 是……的 structure is used in Chinese to highlight or explain specific details about an event, most commonly a past event that is already known to have happened. It allows the speaker to emphasise information such as when, where, how, or with whom the action took place.
This structure is very common in Chinese, but it does not have a direct equivalent in English. A useful way to understand its function is by comparing it to the English ‘it was… that…’, for example: “It was yesterday that I arrived.” This kind of sentence does not simply state that the action happened, it highlights a specific detail, in this case, when it happened.

Structure

Basic form

The shì … de 是……的 structure is used to emphasise specific details about a past action. Here you can see some of the most common structures where shì … de 是……的 is used to place focus on:
• Time (when)
• Place (where)
• Manner (how)
Shì 是 is placed before the part you want to emphasise, while de 的 is usually placed at the end of the sentence or clause.

Note, that in affirmative sentences shì 是 can be left out of the structure. This is especially common in informal spoken language or when the emphasis is clear from context. However, de 的 must still appear to mark the emphasis.

If the sentence has an object this typically comes before de 的.

If the object it not a pronoun such as tā 她 ‘her’ or a noun referring to people, such as lǎoshī 老師 ’teacher’, the object is sometimes placed after de 的.

Negation

To negate a sentence with shì … de 是……的, simply put the negation adverb bù 不 before shì 是. This negation denies the specific detail being emphasised, not the whole event. Shì 是 cannot be left out of a negated sentence.

Question

A question with the shì … de 是……的 structure is about a specific detail, such as time or place, not whether the event happened.
There are two ways to form a yes-no question. The most common way is to add the question particle ma 吗/嗎 at the end of the sentence.

Another way to form a yes-no question is by combining the affirmative and negative forms of the verb shì 是.

With adverbs

Adverbs such yě 也 ‘also’, hái 还/還 ‘still’ or dōu 都 ‘all; both’ usually comes before shì 是. However, they may sometimes appear after shì 是, depending on focus and emphasis.

With prepositional phrase

The shì … de 是……的 structure often emphasises information that is conveyed through a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase is placed after shì 是 and before the verb.

Functions

The most common use of the shì … de 是……的 structure is to draw attention to a specific detail of an action. This can include when something happened, where it happened, how it happened, or who did the action. It is especially common when talking about past actions that are already known to have occurred, and the speaker wants to highlight or ask about a circumstance of the action.
Depending on context, this structure can be used to clarify, correct, or contrast information. The speaker uses the structure to refocus the listener’s attention on a specific part of the situation, not the action itself.

Below you can see examples the most basic functions of the shì … de 是……的 structure.

1. Shì… de 是… 的 emphasising when something happened

When placing shì 是 before a time phrase, the sentence focuses on when something happened.

2. Shì… de 是… 的 emphasising where something happened

When placing shì 是 before a location phrases, the sentence focuses on where something happened.

3. Shì… de 是… 的 emphasising how something happened

When placing shì 是 before phrase that explains the manner the action is carried out, the sentence focuses on how something happened.

4. Shì… de 是… 的 emphasising who did the action

The shì … de 是……的 structure can highlight who did the action. Shì 是 is placed before the person or persons who did the action. This is often used to clarify, correct, or specify responsibility or involvement.