Sentence PatternsHSK 4

The 是... 的 construction for emphasizing details

To stress a detail like time, place, or manner, use 是...的 with the detail between 是 and the verb. The 的 is essential; 是 may be omitted in informal speech.

Structure

Subj. + 是 + [Detail] + Verb + 的

In casual speech, 是 can be omitted, but 的 remains.

Examples

你们是什么时候到的？
Nǐmen shì shénme shíhou dào de ?
When did you guys arrive?
我们是昨天到的。
Wǒmen shì zuótiān dào de .
We arrived yesterday.
你是在哪儿出生的？
Nǐ shì zài nǎr chūshēng de ?
Where were you born?
你骑自行车来的吗？
Nǐ qí zìxíngchē lái de ma?
Did you come by bike?
谁告诉你的？
Shéi gàosu nǐ de ?
Who told you?

Words that use this

是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)
的deof; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute); (used to form a nominal expression); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); also pr. [dì] or [di] in poetry and songs