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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Is to be / are to be
The ball is to be found in the bag.
People are to be reminded that smoking is prohibited.
What kind of grammar is is to be and are to be?
Does it work with these constructions:
Henry is to be going on his adventure tomorrow.
People are to be reminded that smoking is prohibited.
What kind of grammar is is to be and are to be?
Does it work with these constructions:
Henry is to be going on his adventure tomorrow.
Top answer
The first two, I think, would be called the infinitive form of the passive voice. ) In the last example, the is indicates necessity, obligation or intention rather than anything passive. English is great, because there are times when what seems to be the very same series of words can have a very different meaning.
- The first two, I think, would be called the infinitive form of the passive voice.
- ) In the last example, the is indicates necessity, obligation or intention rather than anything passive.
- English is great, because there are times when what seems to be the very same series of words can have a very different meaning.
- Consider: Time flies like an arrow.
- ~~ Fruit flies like a banana.
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2 Answers
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The first two, I think, would be called the infinitive form of the passive voice. (Someone else have a better term?)
In the last example, the is indicates necessity, obligation or intention rather than anything passive. English is great, because there are times when what seems to be the very same series of words can have a very different meaning. Consider: Time flies like
In the last example, the is indicates necessity, obligation or intention rather than anything passive. English is great, because there are times when what seems to be the very same series of words can have a very different meaning. Consider: Time flies like
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AnonymousThe ball is to be found in the bag. People are to be reminded that smoking is prohibited. What kind of grammar is is to be and are to be?All three are examples of the verb (sometimes called a semi- or quasi- modal) am/are is to. This is sometimes referred to as BE to, which I find unhelpful; there is no infinitive.
It has a nu
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