是……的shì...de

The 是...的 Construction (Focus / Cleft Sentence)

Meaning: Emphasizes time, place, manner, or purpose of a past completed event

Pattern

The 是...的 (shì...de) cleft construction is one of the most distinctive and ubiquitous features of Chinese grammar.
It is used when an event is already known to have occurred in the past, but the speaker wants to emphasize or enquire about the specific circumstances: when, where, how, why, or by whom it was carried out.
Structure: Subject + 是 + [Emphasized Element] + Verb + 的.
For example: 我是昨天来的 (It was yesterday that I arrived - emphasizes time); 他是从北京来的 (He came from Beijing - emphasizes place of origin); 我是坐飞机来的 (I came by plane - emphasizes transportation manner).

•The action must have already occurred in the past. 是 can be omitted in spoken Chinese, but 的 cannot.

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

•Incorrect: 我是昨天来。 → Correct: 我是昨天来的。 (the sentence must end with 的)

•Incorrect: 我明天是来的。 (cannot be used for future) → Correct: 我明天来。 (use simple future for uncompleted actions)

Combine Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice, Listening, Hanzi Writing, and Mock Exams at HSK 2 to master all skills together.