HSK 2 · VERSION 2.0#68
The “shì... de” Patterns: An Overview
是……的
How it works
是……的 is used to emphasize details about a completed action, such as time, place, manner, or purpose.
Common Uses
Emphasizing time, place, manner, or reason / purpose
Example sentences
我是昨天来的。
I came yesterday.
他是在学校认识我的。
He met me at school.
我们是坐地铁去的。
We went there by subway.
Usage note
This structure is not for simply saying an action happened. It is for emphasizing one detail of that action.