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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
To be
Hi.
"President Robert Mugabe has reportedly offered a $330,000 ransom for the person willing to identify an anonymous whistleblower who he believes to be behind a string of leaks." [From the Independent.]
Why the infinitive "to be" is used in the sentence instead of the third form of singular "is"? Is there any difference in meaning when using an infinitive but not a conjugated verb in such a pattern?
Thank you.
"President Robert Mugabe has reportedly offered a $330,000 ransom for the person willing to identify an anonymous whistleblower who he believes to be behind a string of leaks." [From the Independent.]
Why the infinitive "to be" is used in the sentence instead of the third form of singular "is"? Is there any difference in meaning when using an infinitive but not a conjugated verb in such a pattern?
Thank you.
Top answer
Anonymous Is there any difference in meaning when using an infinitive but not a conjugated verb in such a pattern? Not in this sentence, no. Anonymous Why is the infinitive "to be" is used in the sentence instead of the third form of singular "is"?
- Anonymous Is there any difference in meaning when using an infinitive but not a conjugated verb in such a pattern?
- Not in this sentence, no.
- Anonymous Why is the infinitive "to be" is used in the sentence instead of the third form of singular "is"?
- It's just the author's preference.
- He is using the construction to believe someone to be ...
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2 Answers
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AnonymousIs there any difference in meaning when using an infinitive but not a conjugated verb in such a pattern?Not in this sentence, no.
AnonymousWhy is the infinitive "to be"It's just the author's preferencisused in the sentence instead of the third form of singular "is"?
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