Dr. Huang Libing, born in 1967 in Hubei, is an Associate Professor of International Students’ Education Policy and Evaluation Institute. His research areas include the research and development of Chinese tests and the study of modern Chinese grammar. He has published a memoir and a monograph on the appreciation of Tang pomes. 

"Shi" can be regarded as the most common word in modern Chinese, and there are many studies on it, but these descriptions and explanations are often isolated and lack of internal connection. This book establishes a concise framework, and makes a comprehensive explanation of the meanings and usages of the copula "shi" from the four levels of semantics, grammar, mood and pragmatics. It also clarifies the relationship among the meanings of different levels and the ways of producing these meanings. This book is a milestone achievement in the study of "shi" by using a variety of theories and methods, including grammar, phonetics, pragmatics and logic.

For researchers, college teachers and postgraduates who are interested in modern Chinese grammar, as well as graduates of Chinese language and literature, teachers and volunteers engaged in TCFL, and readers interested in Chinese grammar or the copula “shi”