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SoulEe Kim Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

"be" and "be of" ?

Good afternoon, everybody:-) In this morning, I was studying about grammar, and I got curious about a expression. The expression I wondered is "be of". Here is the whole sentence.
"They are of two main types : opposite polarity an same polarity tag questions". 'They' in this sentence refer to tag questions.
I could understand the meaning of the sentence but I felt there is another nuiance in this because of "are of". Actually, I just understand it as similar as just "are". What is the difference between "be" and "be of"?
  

Top answer

SoulEe Kim What is the difference between "be" and "be of"? There is no difference there. 'Of' makes it slightly more formal (even stilted, in my opinion).

— Mister Micawber

  • SoulEe Kim What is the difference between "be" and "be of"?
  • There is no difference there.
  • 'Of' makes it slightly more formal (even stilted, in my opinion).
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4 Answers
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SoulEe Kim What is the difference between "be" and "be of"?
There is no difference there. 'Of' makes it slightly more formal (even stilted, in my opinion).
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Oh it was a formality problem. Thank you. The sentence that I wrote above is from "The Teacher's Grammar of English", which is published by Cambridge Uni. Press. I think this book is written quite formally.
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SoulEe KimThey are of two main types
= They belong to two main types.
(= There are two kinds of tag questions.)

CJ
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Oh "be of" has slightly different meaning from just "be" although it doesn't seem to change the whole meaning of sentence. I got it. Thank you :-)
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