HSK 2.0 Level 2+
HSK 3.0 Level 2+
6 min read
4 focus words
是...的 for Details
Highlight the detail of a known past event.
Pattern
是 + detail + verb + 的
Use 是...的 to emphasize when, where, how, or with whom something happened.
我是昨天来的。
When to use 是...的 for Details
是...的 does not simply make a sentence past tense. It frames a completed, known event and focuses attention on a detail.
他是坐地铁来的。
He came by subway.
你是怎么来的？
How did you come?
她是在北京学的中文。
It was in Beijing that she studied Chinese.
你是什么时候买的？
When did you buy it?
Common traps
- Do not use 是...的 for every past event.
- The event should be treated as already happened or known.
- Keep 的 near the end of the focused event.
Support vocabulary
Targeted drill
Practice this exact pattern before moving on.
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