be + past participle [which does not express passive meaning]

Question

Hi, I would like to know why sentences like "The lord is come" and "Grace is gone" are grammatically correct?

As a general rule in English, we use "verb to be + past participle" to express passive meaning. Clearly "is come" and "is gone" in the above examples are not passive in sense; indeed, they express present perfect meaning.

In what situation can we use "verb to be + past participle" to express "present perfect" meaning?

Are there any books talking about this grammatical structure?

Thanks!

Philip · Accepted Answer

AnonymousHi, I would like to know why sentences like "The lord is come" and "Grace is gone" are grammatically correct?

As a general rule in English, we use "verb to be + past participle" to express passive meaning. Clearly "is come" and "is gone" in the above examples are not passive in sense; indeed, they express present perfect meaning.

In what situation can we use "verb to be + past participle" to express "present perfect" meaning?

Are there any books talking about this grammatical structure?

Thanks!

These are left-over examples of a construction used in earlier English, the use of 'be' with certain verbs (similar to those verbs in French still conjugated with être). "He is risen" "he is born" are other examples. There is also a dual use of 'die' (he is dead, and he has died).

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Philip.

I would like to know are there any references that I can read on this issue?

be + past participle [which does not express passive meaning]

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