是...来/去...的 (purpose)

• Pinyin: shì...de
• Formation: Subject + 是 + 来 / 去 + Verb + (Object) + 的
• Hanzi breakdown: 是 = 日 (sun) + 疋 (foot); 的 = 白 (white) + 勺 (spoon)

Meaning

The construction 是...来/去...的 is used to emphasize the purpose of coming or going somewhere. 是 and 的 frame the purpose clause, highlighting why the person came or went.

This structure specifically highlights the reason behind a trip or visit. For example, 我是来找你的 means 'I came (specifically) to find you' — the 是...的 frame draws attention to the purpose. Without 是...的, the sentence 我来找你 simply states the fact without emphasis. The pattern always uses 来 (come) or 去 (go) as the directional verb, followed by the purpose verb. This is part of the broader 是...的 family of constructions used to emphasize different aspects of an event. In questions, it appears as 你是来做什么的? (What did you come here for?). The negative form uses 不是: 我不是来玩的 (I didn't come to play around).

Examples

1. 我是来学中文的。 I came here to study Chinese.
2. 她是去北京出差的。 She went to Beijing on a business trip.
3. 他们是来参观博物馆的。 They came to visit the museum.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 他是来还书的，不是来借书的。
• 我们是去看朋友的。
• 你是来面试的吗？
• 她是去超市买菜的。

Don't Say

• 我是来了学中文的。(Do not add 了 inside the 是...的 construction — 了 conflicts with the emphasis frame) → 我是来学中文的。
• 我是学中文来的。(The purpose verb must follow 来/去, not precede it — the order is 来/去 + purpose verb) → 我是来学中文的。

Origin & History

The 是...的 construction evolved from the copula 是 (to be) and the nominalizer 的 working together to create a cleft-like focus structure. This pattern developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties as vernacular Chinese grammar became more standardized.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal