III. Circumstantial elements that the ‘shì是 ... de的’ construction highlights.

 

2. Focusing on place

 

2.1     Nǐ shì zài nǎr xué de Yīngyǔ? 

你是在哪儿学的英语？

Where did you study English?

 

2.2     Wǒ shì zài Yīngguó xué de Yīngyǔ. 

我是在英国学的英语。

I studied English in England. /It was in England that I studied English.

 

Sentence 2.2 could also be an answer to the following questions.

 

2.3     Nǐ shì zài shénme dìfang xué de Yīngyǔ? 

你是在什么地方学的英语？

Where did you study English?

 

2.4     Nǐ shì zài něi guó xué de Yīngyǔ? 

你是在哪国学的英语？

In which country did you study English?

 

2.5     Nǐ shì zài Yīngguó xué de Yīngyǔ ma? 

你是在英国学的英语吗？

Was it in England that you studied English?

 

2.6     Nǐ shì bú shì zài Yīngguó xué de Yīngyǔ? 

你是不是在英国学的英语？

Was it in England that you studied English?