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是 Shi4 … 的 de5 structure is an useful grammatical usage which can be used to gather or describe more information about an event that already happened in the past. It can be used to inquire about the time, the place, the manner, or purpose of an action that we know already happened. By using the shi4 …… de5 structure, the part that got put between shi4 and de5 is also got emphasized.

Some important rules about using 是 shi4 … 的 de5 structure

1. Shi4 … de5 construction can only be used only for past events.
2. Shi4 can be omitted in shi4 …. de5 structure, however, de5 can’t be omitted.
3. In negative usage, shi4 can not be omitted in bu2 shi4 ….. de5 structure.

For example, if you went to Taipei, and I want to know more details about the trip, I can use shi4 …. de5 structure to acquire the info I need.

A: Little Wang I heard you went to Taipei.
Xiao3 wang2, wo3 ting1 shuo1 ni3 qu4 le5 tai2 bei3?
小王， 我听说你去了台北。

B: Yes, I did.
是的， 我去了。
*** Shi4 de5 ***, wo3 qu4 le5. ******* This shi4 de5 combined usage here, just means yes, it is nothing to do with our main focus today. Read on for the info about shi4 …. de5 structure. Remember that in our main topic today, there are some things between shi4 and de5. So, it is shi4 …. de5, not just shi4 de5.

B wants to know about A’s Taipei trip, so he asks:

When the action took place

B: Ni3 ***shi4*** shen2 me5 shi2 hou4 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***?
你＊＊＊ 是 ＊＊＊ 什么时候 去 台北＊＊＊ 的＊＊＊。
When did you go to Taipei?

A: Wo3 ***shi4*** qu4 nian2 qu4 tai2 pei3 *** de5 ***.
我＊＊＊ 是 ＊＊＊ 去年 去台北＊＊＊ 的＊＊＊。
I went to Taipei last year.

All you need to do is just to replace the answer (去年) to the question phrase (什么时候) and the main sentence structure is the same.

This can also be said by omitted the shi4 and only use de5, and the meaning is all the same as the above sentence.

B: Ni3 shen2 me5 shi2 hou4 qu4 tai2 pei3 ***de5***?
你 什么时候 去 台北 ＊＊＊ 的＊＊＊。
When did you go to Taipei?

A: Wo3 qu4 nian2 qu4 tai2 pei3 *** de5 ***.
我 去年 去台北 ＊＊＊ 的＊＊＊。
I went to Taipei last year.

Now, B wants to know about with whom A went to Taipei, so B asks:

B: Ni3 ***shi4*** gen1 shei2 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***?
你***是***跟谁去台北***的***？
You went with whom to Taipei?

A: Wo3 ***shi4*** gen1 wo3 jie3 jie5 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***.
我***是***跟我姐姐去台北***的***。
I went with my sis to Taipei.

or omitted the shi4

B: Ni3 gan1 shei2 qu4 tai2 pei3 ***de5***?
你 跟谁去台北 ***的***？
You went with whom to Taipei?

A: Wo3 gan1 wo3 jie3 jie5 qu4 tai2 pei3 ***de5***.
我 跟我姐姐去台北 ***的***。
I went with my sis to Taipei.

All you need to do is to replace the person (wo3 jie3 jie5) to the question pronoun (shei), and the other parts of the sentence structure remains the same.

Then, B wants to ask how A went to Taipei:

B: Ni3 ***shi4*** zen3 me5 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***?
你＊＊＊是＊＊＊怎么去台北＊＊＊的＊＊＊？
How you went to Taipei?

B: Wo3 ***shi4*** da1 fei1 ji1 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***.
我＊＊＊是＊＊＊搭飞机去台北＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
I went there by taking the plane.

or take away shi4

B: Ni3 zen3 me5 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***?
你 怎么去台北 ＊＊＊的＊＊＊？
How you went to Taipei?

B: Wo3 da1 fei1 ji1 qu4 tai2 bei3 ***de5***.
我 搭飞机去台北 ＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
I went there by taking the plane.

Shi4 … de5 structure can be used to express the purpose of an action, for example:

Wo3 hua4 de5 tu2 ***shi4 *** yao4 song4 gei3 ta1 ***de5***.
我画的图＊＊＊是＊＊＊要送给她＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
The drawing I drew is intended to give to her.
The purpose of making the drawing is to give it to her.

Wo3 de5 shu1 ***shi4*** yong4 lai2 kan4 ***de5***.
我的书＊＊＊是＊＊＊用来看＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
My book is used to look at.
The purpose of my book is to be used to look at.

是 Shi4 …. 的 de5 structure can also be used to ask about a place which is related with the event. For example, now B. wants to know, at where A bought the ticket to Taipei, then B can be asking:

B: Ni3 ***shi4*** zai4 na3 er5 mai3 qu4 tai2 bei3 de5 ji1 piao4 ***de5***?
你＊＊＊是＊＊＊在哪儿买去台北的机票＊＊＊的＊＊＊？
Where did you buy the ticket to Taipei?

A: Wo3 ***shi4*** zai4 wang3 shang4 mai3 qu4 tai2 bei3 de5 ji1 piao4 ***de5***.
我＊＊＊是＊＊＊在网上买去台北的机票＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
I bought the ticket to Taipei online.

To form the negative usage of 是 shi4 …. 的 de5 structure, you only need to place 不bu2 in front of 是 shi4, and remember, the 不是 bu2 shi4 can’t be omitted.

Wo3 ***bu2 shi4*** zai4 can1 guan3 chi1 fan4 ***de5***, wo3 shi4 zai4 jia1 li3 chi1 fan4 de5.
我***不是***在餐馆吃饭***的***， 我是在家里吃饭的。
I did not eat in the restaurant; I ate it at home.

or

Ta1 ***bu2 shi4*** xi3 huan1 wo3 de5, ta1 shi4 xi3 huan1 na4 ge5 xiao3 jie3 de5.
她***不是***喜欢我***的***， 她是喜欢那个小姐的。
She doesn’t like me; she likes that lady.

Form question with 是 shi4 ….的 de5 structure: all you need to do is to add 是不 shi4 bu2 in front of the original 是 shi4.

Original statement:
Ta1 ***shi4*** hen3 cong1 ming2 de5. — a statement.
她＊＊＊是＊＊＊很聪明＊＊＊的＊＊＊。
She is very smart.

If we add 是不 shi4 bu2 before the 是 shi4, then it became a question.

A question sentence.
Ta1 ***shi4 bu2*** shi4*** hen3 cong1 ming2 de5?
她***是不***是*** 很聪明的？
Is she very smart or not?

Make questions with 是的 Shi4 de5 + 还是 hai2 shi4 (or) to form either A or B questions.

Ni3 ***shi4*** zuo4 che1 lai2 ***de5***, *** hai2 shi4*** zuo4 chuan2 lai2 ***de5***.
你***是***坐车来的， ***还是***坐船来的？
Did you come here by car, or by boat?

Ni3 ***shi4*** jiao1 shu1 ***de5***, ***hui2 shi4*** mai4 fang2 zi5 ***de5***.
你***是***教书的， ***还是***卖房子的？
Do you teach book, or you sell houses?

Shi4 …. de5 structure is very common and important in daily Chinese usage. It is a tool to gather information and to show what your emphasis is. With understanding the Shi4 … de5 structure, you will be able to speak your Chinese in a bossy and effective way. At the end of this post, I will ask you this question:
Ni3 jue2 de5 xue2 zhong1 wen2 shi4 you3 qu4 de5, hai2 shi4 wu2 liao2 de5?
你觉得学中文***是***有趣***的****， ***还是*** 无聊 ***的***？
You think learning Chinese is interesting or boring?

If you know the question and answer it correctly, then I will say
Ni3 de5 zhong1 wen2 zhen1 shi4 fei1 chang2 bang4 de5!!!!
你的中文真***是***非常棒***的***！！
Your Chinese is really great.

海嗚威-我的回憶**不是**我**的** Cantonese version

海鳴威~你的承諾(超好聽) Mandarin version