The 是……的 construction

After learning more in details the use of the verb 是 in the previous lesson, let’s see now a construction in which this verb is used as an emphasis marker (EMP) together with the modal particle (MOD) 的, in order to give certainty to the sentence.

Everything we want to emphasize has to be placed in between these two words 是 and 的, even though the verb 是 is often omitted in affirmative sentences. This structure can be used for different purposes. It can be used to express how, where, when, why and by who a certain action has been made in the past.

他是昨天从北京来的。
tā shì zuótiān cóng běijīng lái de
[he EMP yesterday from Beijing to-come MOD]
He came yesterday from Beijing

这些饺子是你做的吗？
zhèxiē jiǎozi shì nǐ zuò de ma
[these QU dumpling EMP you to-make MOD IN.P]
Is it you who made these dumplings?

我是骑自行车去上班的。
wǒ shì qí zìxíngchē qù shàngbān de
[I EMP to-go-by bicycle to-go to-go-to-work MOD]
I went to work by bicycle

Another use is the descriptive one, in which an opinion not concerning a specific action but a condition of something is strongly expressed.

红茶是很好喝的。
hóngchá shì hěn hǎo hē de
[black-tea EMP very good-to-drink MOD]
Black tea is delicious

The 是……的 structure can also be used to avoid repeating something that has already been mentioned before.

这辆汽车是意大利的(汽车)。
zhè liàng qìchē shì yìdàlì de (qìchē)
[this QU car to-be Italy MOD (car)]
This car is (an) Italian (car)

The negative form of this construction is simply made by placing the adverb 不 before the verb “to be”, that cannot be omitted.

我不是坐地铁来你家的，是开车来的。
wǒ bùshì zuò dìtiě lái nǐ jiā de, shì kāichē lái de
[I not EMP by subway to-come you house MOD, EMP to-drive to-come MOD]
I didn’t come to your house by subway, I came by car.

Cover background picture by Lin Qiang (unsplash.com)