[tense] the verb "be" + an adjective

Question

The narrator recalls his childhood.He was forced to work for his own living for Mr. Murdstone's friend Mr. Quinion at London by his stepfather Mr. Murdstone.When the protagonist started to run away to his grand aunt Miss Betsey, he was robbed his money and box by a porter and then he abandoned pursuing him after a long distance pursuit.At last, he arrived his grand aunt's place after a long and rough traveling.He said his own story to his aunt and her friend Mr. Dick....................."Janet!" cried my aunt, with the same complacent triumph that I had remarked before. "Mr. Dick sets us all right. If the bed is ready, we'll take him up to it." Janet reporting it to be quite ready, I was taken up to it, kindly, but in some sort like a prisoner, my aunt going in front, and Janet bringing up the rear.[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]I think the verb "be" + an adjective indicates the present perfect.So I was wondering how I can indicate a plan with the verb "be" + an adjective.Thank you in advance for your help.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

park sang joonI think the verb "be" + an adjective indicates the present perfect.

"be" is part of the infinitive "to be", so it can't be any tense at all, so it's not the present perfect.

You have an object complement here (quite ready). "report" is a verb that allows this.

Janet reported that the bed was quite ready.
> Janet reported the bed to be quite ready. > Janet reported it to be quite ready.

This finite clause is made non-finite by changing the finite "reported" to the non-finite "reporting". This is done so that the clause can be added to a finite main clause (I was taken up to it) without any need to form a separate sentence.

Janet reporting it to be quite ready, I was taken up to it,...

park sang joonSo I was wondering how I can indicate a plan with the verb "be" + an adjective.

I fail to see the connection between "a plan" and the verb "be". A plan would not normally be expressed with the linking verb "be" and an adjective anyway. Maybe I don't understand your question.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, CalifJim, for your So Very kind answer.

I thought "be quite ready" indicates completion of the making a bed.
So I wondered if she is about to make a bed from now, how I can express that.
Now I was wondering if I should deduce the tense of infinitive verbs in terms of the context.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonSo I wondered if she is about to make a bed from now, how I can express that.

If the bed is ready, we'll take him up to it.
Janet reporting it to be quite ready, I was taken up to it.

The direct opposite is

Janet reporting it not to be ready, I was not taken up to it.

But what you want is like this:

Janet reported that she had not yet made the bed and was about to do so, so I was not taken up to it.

Or, in Dickens's style:

Janet reporting it yet [to be readied / to be made ready], I was not taken up to it.

park sang joonI was wondering if I should deduce the tense of infinitive verbs in terms of the context.

Yes. Non-finite constructions are dependent on the main clause to supply tense.

CJ

[tense] the verb "be" + an adjective

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