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

 

3. Focusing on manner

 

3.2 Conveyance

 

3.2.1 Jīntiān Zhāng Huá shì zénme lái xuéxiào de? 

          今天张华是怎么来学校的？

          How did Hua Zhang come to school today?

 

3.2.2  Jīntiān tā shì zǒulù lái xuéxiào de. 

今天他是走路来学校的。

He came to school on foot today.

 

Sentence 3.2.2 could also be an answer to the following questions.

 

3.2.3  Jīntiān tā shì zǒulù lái xuéxiào de ma? 

          今天他是走路来学校的吗？

          Was it on foot that he came to school today?

 

3.2.4 Jīntiān tā shì bú shì zǒulù lái xuéxiào de? 

          今天他是不是走路来学校的？

          Was it on foot that he came to school today?