Breakdown of wǒmen shì zuò dìtiě qù yīyuàn de, piào yě bú guì.
Questions & Answers about wǒmen shì zuò dìtiě qù yīyuàn de, piào yě bú guì.
What does the 是…的 structure do here?
It highlights or “focuses” a detail about a specific event, usually in the past. Here it emphasizes the manner of going: 坐地铁 (by subway). The focused detail sits between 是 and 的:
- Pattern: (主语) 是 + [time/place/manner/companion] + 动作 + 的
- Example: 我们是坐地铁去医院的。 (focusing on how we went)
Why is there a 的 at the end?
That final 的 closes the 是…的 focus construction. It’s not the possessive 的. If you remove 是, you should also remove that 的. For example:
- With focus: 我们是坐地铁去医院的。
- Neutral statement: 我们坐地铁去医院。
Can I drop 是…的 and just say 我们坐地铁去医院?
Why use 不 instead of 没 to negate 贵?
贵 is an adjective (a stative verb), so it’s typically negated with 不: 不贵. Use 没(有) to negate actions, existence, or past experience (or in the set pattern 没那么 + adj). Both are possible in different patterns:
- 票也不贵。 (not expensive)
- 票也没那么贵。 (not that expensive)
Why is 不 pronounced bú here (bú guì) instead of bù?
What exactly does 也 do here, and where does it go?
也 means “also/too,” adding another related point. It comes after the subject/topic and before the predicate:
- 票也不贵。 (As for the tickets, they weren’t expensive either.) You cannot put 也 at the end or before the subject.
Why is there no measure word before 票?
When speaking generally or collectively (“the tickets” as a category for that trip), Chinese can omit a measure word. If you want to count or be specific, add one:
- 两张票不贵。 (Two tickets weren’t expensive.)
- 地铁票也不贵。 (Subway tickets/fare weren’t expensive.)
Does 票 mean “tickets” or “fare” here?
Why use 坐 with 地铁? Are there alternatives?
坐 is the most common, neutral verb for “take (a vehicle)” in daily speech: 坐地铁/坐公交/坐火车. Alternatives:
- 乘/乘坐 (chéng/chéngzuò): more formal.
- 搭 (dā): common in Taiwan and some southern regions.
- Taxis: 打车/坐出租车.
Is the word order 坐地铁去医院 fixed? Can I say 去医院坐地铁?
Should it be 去医院 or 到医院? What’s the difference?
Both can work:
- 去医院 focuses on the action “go (to).”
- 到医院 highlights the arrival at the destination. With 是…的, both are acceptable: 我们是坐地铁去/到医院的. The nuance difference is minor here.
Can I add time, place, or companion details inside 是…的?
Yes; that’s a core use. Examples:
- 我们是昨天坐地铁去医院的。 (time)
- 我们是从市中心坐地铁去医院的。 (starting place)
- 我们是和朋友一起坐地铁去医院的。 (companion)
How would I answer “How did you go to the hospital?” using this pattern?
Q: 你们是怎么去医院的?
A: 我们是坐地铁去的。
You can drop the destination after 去 in the answer because it’s understood from the question.
Does 不贵 mean “cheap”?
Why is 医院 pronounced yīyuàn and not yíyuàn?
Can I negate the focus to correct someone?
Yes. 不是…的 denies a specific assumption:
- 我们不是坐地铁去医院的。 (We didn’t go by subway.) You can then add the correct detail: 我们是打车去医院的。 (We went by taxi.)
Can I connect the two parts with 而且/并且?
Yes, to make the addition explicit:
- 我们是坐地铁去医院的,而且票也不贵。 It’s also fine as two clauses separated by a comma, as in the original.
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