Look and behold

Question

Hello,Could you tell me please how to say 'Look! Who is sitting there!'  in  past  simple?Is it possible to say;   He said;  Look!(,) who was sitting there.Is it possible to omit 'he said'?According to this definition  of to behold the verb 'behold'' is unchanged. So I decided  to ask if  it's the same with to look.Behold–interjection 2. look; see: And, behold, three sentries of  King did appear. Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

ninaniaCould you tell me please how to say 'Look! Who is sitting there!' in past simple?

I'm not sure it's possible.
For one thing, the first exclamation point implies a pause. That means that what follows will be a question:

"Who is sitting there?"

"Look [ at ] who is sitting there!" is a different expression. It can be exclamatory, but it can also be a simple imperative sentence:

"Look at me when I'm speaking to you."

I don't think you can use an imperative statement in the past tense.

If I say, "And, behold, it appeared," then "behold" is an interjection." (The "And" almost seems necessary.)

If I say, "Behold the strange-looking man in the corner!" then "behold" is an imperative verb.

In the past tense, if not an interjection, it would have to be in a declarative sentence:

He beheld the strange man sitting in the corner.

ninaniaAnd, behold, three sentries of the King did appear.

You cannot substitute "look" for "behold" in this sentence, although "look!" may be used as an interjection.

ninaniaAccording to this definition of to behold the verb 'behold'' is unchanged. So I decided to ask if it's the same with to look.

No, it's not. Do you find a separate dictionary definition for "look" as an interjection?

It's a good question. I just don't have a clear answer.

ninaniaIs it possible to say; He said; Look!(,) who was sitting there.
Is it possible to omit 'he said'?

The answer to the first question is "No," so the answer to the second question is moot.

Anonymous · Answer

I was confused by this definition and sentence

Behold

–interjection

2.
look; see: And, behold, three sentries of King did appear.

Does it mean; And, look, three sentries of King did appear.

Isn't it a mistake to say that in comparison to 'to Look' which can't be used as an interjection in the past simple, to behold can be used?

Thanks

Avangi · Answer

The problem here is that there's a difference between the semantic meaning of a word and the grammatical structures and situations in which it may be used.

ninaniaBehold
–interjection
2.
look; see: And, behold, three sentries of the King did appear.

Is this exactly as it appears? Have you omitted anything?

"Behold" as an interjection means "look/see." This is a true statement.

The tense usage can get messy!

You have an argument with your friend about what "happened" (past tense) in a movie, so you play that part again.

You say, "See! He went the wrong way!" It's tempting to say that "see" is being used in the past tense.

But it's really, "Don't you see? He went the wrong way!"

There are many cases in dictionaries in which the words used to describe the meaning of the "entry" word are not actually synonyms for it, when it comes to usage.

The past tense of "I behold a bright star!" is "I beheld a bright star."

But "behold" as an interjection does not change when used in a past tense sentence.

I don't believe that ANY interjection changes form when used in a past tense sentence.

I tried to pull the fish out of the water, and ****! it slipped out of my hands.

Anonymous · Answer

I found this;

Look

Exclamation; used to make sb pay attention to what you are going to say, often when you are annoyed: Look, I think we should go now. Look, that's not fair.

But 'look' can't be replaced by 'behold,' here in these sentences, am I right?

I also find this sentence; Look! I am sure that's Brad Pitt. Can behold be used here to mean the same? Look=Behold!

Avangi · Answer

ninaniaCan behold be used here to mean the same? Look=Behold!

You're fighting an uphill battle here. Nobody uses "behold" in casual conversation, except possibly as sarcasm. As Clive said in the original exchange, it's biblical, or used in dialogues about biblical times.

Clive'Lo and behold' is far from a common xpression in modern English, in my experience. I'd be surprised if I encounter it once a year.
'Behold' by itself seems pretty archaic, and biblical.
As a substitute, I wouldn't say 'and then'. I'd say something like 'To my surprise'.

Behold! I'm sure that's Brad Pitt. This would not be incorrect, and people would understand what you meant, but they'd probably want to know what you've been smoking.

You can substitute "listen" for "look," and it would be taken the same way:

"Listen, I think we should go now." "Listen, that's not fair!" (No problem! but not "behold")

Anonymous · Answer

I see, I won't use it in this way.

Look and behold

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