The 是-Sentence: Identity and Classification
The 是 (shì) sentence links a subject to a noun to state identity or class, as in 我是学生. It is not used before an adjective, so 她很高 is correct and 她是高 is not.
Structure: Subject + 是 + Noun/Noun Phrase
- 我是学生。= I am a student.
- 她是医生。= She is a doctor.
是 is NOT an adjective verb. For adjectives, use 很: 她很漂亮 ✓ (NOT 她是漂亮).
Negation: Subject + 不是 + Noun
- 他不是老师。= He is not a teacher.
Question: Subject + 是 + Noun + 吗？
- 你是学生吗？= Are you a student?
Common mistake: Do NOT use 是 before adjectives. 今天是热 ✗ → 今天很热 ✓
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我是学生，他是老师。 | Wǒ shì xué sheng, tā shì lǎo shī. | I am a student; he is a teacher. | 是 links subject to role/identity |
| 这不是我的书，是她的。 | Zhè bù shì wǒ de shū, shì tā de. | This is not my book; it's hers. | 不是 = is not (negation of 是) |
| 你是哪国人？我是中国人。 | Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Wǒ shì Zhōng guó rén. | Which country are you from? I am Chinese. | 是 for nationality classification; question uses 哪 |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
是 (shì)
Links two nouns to say that the subject is, or belongs to, the noun after it.
Structure: Subject + 是 + Noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这是我的同学。 | Zhè shì wǒ de tóng xué. | This is my classmate. |
| 他是我们的汉语老师。 | Tā shì wǒ men de Hàn yǔ lǎo shī. | He is our Chinese teacher. |
| 明天是星期天。 | Míng tiān shì xīng qī tiān. | Tomorrow is Sunday. |
Not: 我是很忙。 Do not put 是 before an adjective: 我很忙。
是 is also explained in: Existential Sentences with 着: 桌子上放着书 (HSK 2) · Existential sentences: 有/是/着 + location (HSK 4).
What this opens up
These patterns list The 是-Sentence among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about The 是-Sentence
What does 是字句 (The 是-Sentence) mean in Chinese?
The 是 (shì) sentence links a subject to a noun to state identity or class, as in 我是学生. It is not used before an adjective, so 她很高 is correct and 她是高 is not. It is an HSK 1 grammar point.
How do you use 是字句 (The 是-Sentence) in a sentence?
我是学生，他是老师。 — Wǒ shì xué sheng, tā shì lǎo shī. — I am a student; he is a teacher. 是 links subject to role/identity.
Where does 是字句 (The 是-Sentence) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 1, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 是字句 (The 是-Sentence) lead to?
Noun Predicate Sentences (HSK 2), 是…的 Construction (HSK 2), Topic-Comment & Subject-Predicate Predicate (HSK 3). Each of them names 是字句 (The 是-Sentence) among its own prerequisites.
Can I use 是 before an adjective in Chinese?
Not in a plain statement. Say 她很漂亮, not 她是漂亮. 是 is for nouns, or for emphasis, as in 这个是好的。
How do I make a 是 sentence negative?
Put 不 before 是, as in 他不是老师。 Do not use 没, because 他没是老师 is wrong.
The 是-Sentence is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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