<p>的 at the end of sentences can be seen in really a lot of cases. Here are just two cases I can think of at the moment:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>case 1. 你(是)哪一天出生的？</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This question asks about an event which happened in the past. Note it often comes with 是.</p>
<p>If we omit both 是 and 的, it will become 你哪一天出生？This sounds a little weird, because generally the new version means an event to happen in the future, but in the context people understand this is asking about an event in the past.</p>
<p>Compare:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A. 他(是)哪天来的？- asking about an event in the past.</p>
<p>B. 他哪天来？- asking about an event to happen in the future.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他在20年前出生。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There isn't 是 or 的, but people understand it without a problem and this is used a lot. It's also very common to see 他(是)(在)20年前出生的。</p>
<blockquote>
<p>case 2. 树叶是绿的。 - The leaves are green.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sentence describes the current status, or the general case.</p>
<p>Generally people don't say 树叶绿 as a standalone sentence, because it is incomplete. However this fragment can be used in poems or nursery rhymes(儿歌，童谣), for example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>黄瓜绿，番茄红，辣椒秧上挂灯笼。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>If people say 树叶绿了, this means &quot;the leaves turned green&quot; or &quot;the leaves have turned green&quot;.</p>
<p>Note: in Chinese, there are a lot phrasal patterns, like 在 ... 以后, 从 ... 中, 虽然 ... 但是, 不是 ... 而是, and a lot others.</p>
<p>是...的 is one of the most used phrasal patterns. Its structure is</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Subject + 是...的 (是 sometimes can be omitted)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This structure can be used to give general descriptions, or to describe events which happened in the past, or to express possibility of something to happen in the future.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<pre><code>他(是)前天来的。- describe past event
我(是)坐车来的。- describe past event
我们(是)一起来的。- describe past event
我(是)喝着草原的羊奶长大的。- describe past event
我的一个朋友是被他的女友杀害的。- describe past event. 是 not omitted before 被
我(是)不会弃我的目标的。- express willingness
我看，他(是)不会来的。- express possibility of future event
</code></pre>
<p>Although we can sometimes omit 是 from the 是...的 pattern, but we don't ommit 的。We can say, 树叶是绿色的。But we can't say 树叶是绿色。 Because 绿色 is the name of the color (green), and 树叶 is not a type of color. Just like in English, we say &quot;the leaves are green&quot;, where green is an adj. But we don't say &quot;the leaves are green color&quot;, while we can say &quot;the leaves are <strong>of</strong> green color&quot;. Here the word &quot;of&quot; servers a very similar function as 的 in 树叶是绿色的。</p>
<p>The 是-omitted variation is used in poems a lot. In the following examples, 是 is omitted:</p>
<pre><code>树叶绿绿的。
她的脸红红的。
时间的脚步轻轻的，走过了我的窗前，也走过了我的心田；走过了我的留恋，走过了我的思念。
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T16:14:09.767Z
The syntactic structure of `你哪一天出生？` is "你(subject, 主语) + 哪一天(what date OR when. Adverbial phrase, 状语) + 出生(verb, 谓语)"; however, for `你是哪一天出生的？`, it is "你(subject) + 是(verb) + 哪一天出生的(object, 宾语)". So, you cannot consider `你哪一天出生？` is just short for `你是哪一天出生的？`.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-28T02:18:51.297Z
Hi @Stan , you're probably right about the syntax. Being not a language teacher I just don't consider syntax most of the time, so subconsciously I was talking more about the meaning.
golddc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-29T01:59:40.733Z
That's why I thought the "ommit" looked so weird! Thanks @孤影萍踪 .
golddc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-29T10:05:42.823Z
+1 for good examples and refinement :)
Stan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T09:37:33.257Z
Downvoted. The examples provided in this answer are all good, but its logical flow and the conclusions it suggests about grammar rules and usage of 的 and 是～的 construction are inaccurate. The remark "*This structure can be used to give general descriptions, or to describe events which happened in the past, or to express possibility of something to happen in the future.*" is **not** a grammar rule. It's like saying that you can use "*will*" in English when talking about travel because you can say "I will go to New York"
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T14:24:05.833Z
2013-05-29T16:45:48.407Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
golddc
<p>I think those sentence can be "completion" to</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你是哪一天出生的？</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>你　　 <em>是</em> 哪一天出生 　　　<em>的</em> <strong>人</strong>？</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>我们什么时候开始的？</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>我们　 <em>是</em> 什么时候开始 <strong>做</strong>　<em>的</em> <strong>这件事</strong>？</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>前天你什么时候来的这里？</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>前天你 <strong><em>是</em></strong> 什么时候来　　 　<em>的</em> 这里？</p>
    
    <p>"前天" means a time, now we can ignore it.</p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>

<pre>
X <b>是</b> Y <b>的</b> Z
Which means
X is one of Z, but a "special" Z, that can be describe by Y.
</pre>

<p>eg.</p>

<p><ol>
<li>草*<em>是</em><em>绿色</em><em>的</em><em>。</li>
<li>草</em><em>是</em><em>绿色</em><em>的</em>*<em>植物</em>。</li>
<li>Grass 是 green 的 plant.</li>
<li>Grass is one of plants, And it is green.</li>
<li>The grass is green <em>plant</em>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>of course, "grass" is a "plant", 草 is a 植物, so</li>
  <li>The grass is green.</li>
  </ol>
  Every Y part can be remove:</p>
</blockquote>

<ol>
<li>草是植物。</li>
<li>Grass is a plant.</li>
</ol>

<p>And Y part can be a question:</p>

<ol>
<li>草是什么颜色的？</li>
<li>草是什么颜色的*植物*？</li>
<li>Grass 是 what color 的 plant?</li>
<li>Grass is one of plants, And what color of it?</li>
<li>What color is the <em>plant</em> grass.</li>
<li>What color is the grass.</li>
</ol>

<p>All your 3 sentences is Past Tense.
but these pattern can also use in “Present Tense”(or some others?), as my example.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-28T08:07:59.787Z
2013-06-28T08:07:59.787Z
GongT
<p>I have the following sentences:</p>

<pre><code>你是哪一天出生的？ (sentence 1)
</code></pre>

<p>I'm trying to understand why 的 is being used in this sentence. I know it is used to express possession, but I'm not sure that's the case is this example.</p>

<pre><code>我们什么时候开始的？ (sentence 2)
</code></pre>

<p>In this case, the 的 seems to be functioning an aspect particle to indicate a past event. Is this correct? Can 的 be used like 了?</p>

<pre><code>前天你什么时候来的这里？ (sentence 3)
</code></pre>

<p>Is 的 functioning like an aspect particle in this case?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T04:44:31.887Z
The full sentence is actually 你是哪一天出生的人? But in cases like this, 人 is **always** omitted.
arax
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T06:13:58.753Z
BTW, be careful of the difference of 那/哪, though they are often used in a wrong way even for native speakers. 那 means **that** and 哪 means **which/where/what**. So, you should say 你是哪一天出生的?---if you want to express **On what date were you born?**.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T14:52:10.257Z
@Stan, you have made a good point. I have deleted my answer. amorimluc, you should take a look at [this ](http://eastasiastudent.net/china/putonghua/shi-de-construction/) . Sorry, I don't have time to write it down as answer.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-27T15:39:51.273Z
@QuestionOverflow that article is a very good answer to this question.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-28T00:00:31.777Z
@Stan you are correct. Chinese typo. Thx
amorimluc
<usage><particles>
Why is 的 used in 你是哪一天出生的 and 我们什么时候开始的 and 前天你什么时候来的这里?
# Why is 的 used in 你是哪一天出生的 and 我们什么时候开始的 and 前天你什么时候来的这里?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-27)

I have the following sentences:

```
你是哪一天出生的？ (sentence 1)

```

I'm trying to understand why 的 is being used in this sentence. I know it is used to express possession, but I'm not sure that's the case is this example.

```
我们什么时候开始的？ (sentence 2)

```

In this case, the 的 seems to be functioning an aspect particle to indicate a past event. Is this correct? Can 的 be used like 了?

```
前天你什么时候来的这里？ (sentence 3)

```

Is 的 functioning like an aspect particle in this case?

**Tags:** usage, particles

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The full sentence is actually 你是哪一天出生的人? But in cases like this, 人 is **always** omitted.  
> **username_2**: BTW, be careful of the difference of 那/哪, though they are often used in a wrong way even for native speakers. 那 means **that** and 哪 means **which/where/what**. So, you should say 你是哪一天出生的?---if you want to express **On what date were you born?**.  
> **username_3**: @username_2, you have made a good point. I have deleted my answer. username_0, you should take a look at [this ](http://eastasiastudent.net/china/putonghua/shi-de-construction/) . Sorry, I don't have time to write it down as answer.  
> **username_2**: @QuestionOverflow that article is a very good answer to this question.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 you are correct. Chinese typo. Thx  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-05-27. Score: 5

的 at the end of sentences can be seen in really a lot of cases. Here are just two cases I can think of at the moment:

> case 1. 你(是)哪一天出生的？

This question asks about an event which happened in the past. Note it often comes with 是.

If we omit both 是 and 的, it will become 你哪一天出生？This sounds a little weird, because generally the new version means an event to happen in the future, but in the context people understand this is asking about an event in the past.

Compare:

> A. 他(是)哪天来的？- asking about an event in the past.
>
> B. 他哪天来？- asking about an event to happen in the future.

Another example:

> 他在20年前出生。

There isn't 是 or 的, but people understand it without a problem and this is used a lot. It's also very common to see 他(是)(在)20年前出生的。

> case 2. 树叶是绿的。 - The leaves are green.

This sentence describes the current status, or the general case.

Generally people don't say 树叶绿 as a standalone sentence, because it is incomplete. However this fragment can be used in poems or nursery rhymes(儿歌，童谣), for example:

> 黄瓜绿，番茄红，辣椒秧上挂灯笼。

If people say 树叶绿了, this means "the leaves turned green" or "the leaves have turned green".

Note: in Chinese, there are a lot phrasal patterns, like 在 ... 以后, 从 ... 中, 虽然 ... 但是, 不是 ... 而是, and a lot others.

是...的 is one of the most used phrasal patterns. Its structure is

> Subject + 是...的 (是 sometimes can be omitted)

This structure can be used to give general descriptions, or to describe events which happened in the past, or to express possibility of something to happen in the future.

Examples:

```
他(是)前天来的。- describe past event
我(是)坐车来的。- describe past event
我们(是)一起来的。- describe past event
我(是)喝着草原的羊奶长大的。- describe past event
我的一个朋友是被他的女友杀害的。- describe past event. 是 not omitted before 被
我(是)不会弃我的目标的。- express willingness
我看，他(是)不会来的。- express possibility of future event

```

Although we can sometimes omit 是 from the 是...的 pattern, but we don't ommit 的。We can say, 树叶是绿色的。But we can't say 树叶是绿色。 Because 绿色 is the name of the color (green), and 树叶 is not a type of color. Just like in English, we say "the leaves are green", where green is an adj. But we don't say "the leaves are green color", while we can say "the leaves are **of** green color". Here the word "of" servers a very similar function as 的 in 树叶是绿色的。

The 是-omitted variation is used in poems a lot. In the following examples, 是 is omitted:

```
树叶绿绿的。
她的脸红红的。
时间的脚步轻轻的，走过了我的窗前，也走过了我的心田；走过了我的留恋，走过了我的思念。

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The syntactic structure of `你哪一天出生？` is "你(subject, 主语) + 哪一天(what date OR when. Adverbial phrase, 状语) + 出生(verb, 谓语)"; however, for `你是哪一天出生的？`, it is "你(subject) + 是(verb) + 哪一天出生的(object, 宾语)". So, you cannot consider `你哪一天出生？` is just short for `你是哪一天出生的？`.  
> **username_4**: Hi @username_2 , you're probably right about the syntax. Being not a language teacher I just don't consider syntax most of the time, so subconsciously I was talking more about the meaning.  
> **username_4**: That's why I thought the "ommit" looked so weird! Thanks @孤影萍踪 .  
> **username_2**: +1 for good examples and refinement :)  
> **username_5**: Downvoted. The examples provided in this answer are all good, but its logical flow and the conclusions it suggests about grammar rules and usage of 的 and 是～的 construction are inaccurate. The remark "*This structure can be used to give general descriptions, or to describe events which happened in the past, or to express possibility of something to happen in the future.*" is **not** a grammar rule. It's like saying that you can use "*will*" in English when talking about travel because you can say "I will go to New York"  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-06-28. Score: 2

I think those sentence can be "completion" to

> 你是哪一天出生的？
>
> > 你　　 *是* 哪一天出生 　　　*的* **人**？
>
> 我们什么时候开始的？
>
> > 我们　 *是* 什么时候开始 **做**　*的* **这件事**？
>
> 前天你什么时候来的这里？
>
> > 前天你 ***是*** 什么时候来　　 　*的* 这里？
> >
> > "前天" means a time, now we can ignore it.

```

X 是 Y 的 Z
Which means
X is one of Z, but a "special" Z, that can be describe by Y.

```

eg.

1. 草\**是**绿色**的**。*
2. 草*是**绿色**的*\**植物*。
3. Grass 是 green 的 plant.
4. Grass is one of plants, And it is green.
5. The grass is green *plant*.
   > of course, "grass" is a "plant", 草 is a 植物, so
6. The grass is green.

Every Y part can be remove:

1. 草是植物。
2. Grass is a plant.

And Y part can be a question:

1. 草是什么颜色的？
2. 草是什么颜色的\*植物\*？
3. Grass 是 what color 的 plant?
4. Grass is one of plants, And what color of it?
5. What color is the *plant* grass.
6. What color is the grass.

All your 3 sentences is Past Tense.
but these pattern can also use in “Present Tense”(or some others?), as my example.


---

