是…的 it was ~ that

6 phrases

是…的 puts the spotlight on how, when or where something already known happened. 你是什么时候来的 assumes you came and asks only about the when. It is the difference between reporting an event and picking apart its details.

我是坐飞机来的 wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de — I came by plane

你是什么时候来的？ nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de? — when did you come?

我是在中国学的 wǒ shì zài Zhōngguó xué de — I learnt it in China

他是昨天走的 tā shì zuótiān zǒu de — he left yesterday

这是我做的 zhè shì wǒ zuò de — I made this

是我说的 shì wǒ shuō de — it was I who said it

HEYGOW

是…的 it was ~ that