English grammar

The verb be is never a modal auxiliary; it is a primary verb along with have and do.

It is Tuesday. -- main verb be with copular function

He is playing. -- aspect auxiliary be

A mistake was made. -- passive (voice) auxiliary

InchoateknowledgeThe verb be is never a modal auxiliary; it is a primary verb along with have and do.

"Be" is indeed a primary verb-form, but note that it qualifies as a non-modal auxiliary verb not just when it's marking progressive aspect or passive voice, but also when it's the only verb in the clause, taking a complement with the form of an Adj

BillJbut also when it's the only verb in the clause

Let's see if I've got this right.

In It is Tuesday is is an auxiliary verb; is is not a main verb. Right?

That seems to imply that forms of to be are never main verbs, I think. Is that right?

I did not know that.

CJ

CalifJim

BillJbut also when it's the only verb in the clause

Let's see if I've got this right.
In It is Tuesday is is an auxiliary verb; is is not a main verb. Right?
That seems to imply that forms of to be are never main verbs, I think.

BillJThe contrast is between lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs.

So forms of to be are never lexical verbs, right?

CJ

CalifJim

BillJThe contrast is between lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs.

So forms of to be are never lexical verbs, right? CJ

On the analysis I described, no.

BillJ

OK. Got it. Thanks.

CJ

I agree with CJ. The main verb is the one which is used to form the main clause in a sentence. I see no reason to exclude the verb 'to be' from being the main verb, i.e. the one denoting existance, physical condition, describing age, size, weight, price, etc. In I am forty the verb am is used as an ordinary verb.

"The contrast is between lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs. "Be" qualifies as an auxiliary verb because its behaviour with respect to inversion and negation is the same as when it's marking progressive aspect or passive voice. Compare this use of "be" as an only verb with one marking progressive aspect:

be as ASPECT MARKER be as ONLY VERB

"He is acti

Ditto!

In the "He is acting strangely" the main (lexical/ordinary) verb is 'to act'.

In "He is insane" the main (lexical/ordinary) verb is 'to be'. I disagree with the logic of this analysis. Both inversion and negation don't change the role of the verb 'to be' as a carrier of the lexical meaning here. You simply state the mental condition and the verb 'to be' itself carries the