Use of 是……的
The 是……的 structure is often used for emphasis. 是 is put before the emphasized part of the sentence and 的 is put at the end, or in the colloquial register, after the verb and before the object. Note that 是 here does not mean 'to be'. It is used with 的 as the structural particle in order to emphasize the following:
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- a complement of time: 我昨天去了一家中介。I went to an agency yesterday. → 我是昨天去中介的。('yesterday ' is emphasized.) |
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- a complement of manner: 我通过中介找到了一套房子。I found a flat through an agency. → 我是通过中介找到房子的。('through an agency ' is emphasized.) |
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- a complement of place: 我昨天在回家的路上碰到了小方。I met Xiao Fang on my way home yesterday. → 我昨天是在回家的路上碰到小方的。('on my way home' is emphasized.) |
The 是……的 structure is also used to add an affirmative tone. 是 is put after the subject phrase (the topic) and 的 is put at the end of the sentence. 是 is used as a verb and can be translated here as 'to be'. 的 is a structural particle.
客厅是朝南的。The living room is south-facing.
(lit. The living room | 'shi ' | south-facing | 'de'.)
这个小区是05年建的。This apartment complex was built in 2005.
(lit. This apartment | 'shi ' | built in 2005 | 'de '.)
家具都是他亲自精挑细选的。All the furniture was chosen carefully by him.
(lit. Furniture all | 'shi ' | he personally carefully chose | 'de'.)
Word ordering
Practise using the structure 是……的 to emphasize part of a sentence. Read the following contexts and answer the questions. The replies have been jumbled up. Put the words into the correct order. You can hover your mouse over the given Chinese sentences to access their English translation. You can also click on the audio button to hear each question and reply. Check your answers.
Context
小方两周前通过中介找到了一套房子。
Context
小方当天就和中介签了一年的合同。
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Asserting emphasis
Practise using the 是……的 structure to provide an affirmative stress. Type in the Chinese translation of the following English sentences. The first click on 帮助 gives you the sentence's jumbled keywords and the second one the full sentence. You can also click on the audio button to hear the full sentence. Compare your entries with the sample answers.
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