B1 · Grammar reference · ASGE662E
The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details The 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) construction is used to draw attention to certain information in a sentence. It's often used to ask questions that seek specific information, or to explain a situation by emphasizing a particular detail. While not strictly tied to any "tense," the 是⋯⋯的 construction is frequently used when asking or telling details about the past.
Structure
Subj. + 是 + [Information to be Emphasized] + Verb + 的
Keywords 是 · 的
Used for Emphasizing · Referring to the past
Classification HSK1 Examples (26) Add all sentences to My sentences I went to Hangzhou yesterday. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. How did you get there? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. I went by train. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. What time did you arrive yesterday? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Who did you go with? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. What did he use to hit you? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. When did you guys arrive? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. We arrived yesterday. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Where were you born? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. I was born in Hong Kong. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Did you come by bike? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. I came by foot. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Who told you? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. A colleague told me. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. They didn't meet online. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. He didn't go with us. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Did she reply by email? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Did you meet each other last year? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. How much did you buy this thing for? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Did you go to Beijing with him last weekend? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Was it last week that you went to Beijing with him? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Was it him that you went to Beijing with last week? Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. We had a meeting by Skype. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. We had a meeting by Skype. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. That time we had the meeting by Skype. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. We usually have meetings by Skype. Illustrates The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details with 是. Further resources
Learn from another explanation No editorial pick yet for this exact pattern.
Editorial picks are checked for a close topic match. Search results and external content belong to their publishers and may change.