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

 

3. Focusing on manner

 

3.4 Demeanor

 

3.4.1  A:      Tā qù nàr tā fùmǔ zěnme bù zhīdào? 

                   他去那儿他父母怎么不知道？

                   How come his parents didn’t know that he went there?

B:      Tā shì tōutōu qù de. 

          他是偷偷去的。

          He went secretly.

 

Sentence 3.4.1B could also be an answer to the following questions.

 

3.4.2 Tā shì tōutōu qù de ma? 

他是偷偷去的吗？

Did he go secretly?

 

3.4.3 Tā shì bú shì tōutōu qù de? 

他是不是偷偷去的？

Did he go secretly?