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Inchoateknowledge Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
to be to #2
http://www.google.co.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22it+was+to+be%22&btnG=Keres%C3%A9s&meta=
http://www.google.co.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22he+was+to+have+been%22&btnG=Keres%C3%A9s&meta=
What is this construction: 'to be to'?
What is the difference between 'He was to have been executed' and 'He was to be executed'.
I read about the 'to be to' construction somewhere in a grammar book, but I do not know where.
Please somebody shed some light on it.
http://www.google.co.hu/search?hl=hu&q=%22he+was+to+have+been%22&btnG=Keres%C3%A9s&meta=
What is this construction: 'to be to'?
What is the difference between 'He was to have been executed' and 'He was to be executed'.
I read about the 'to be to' construction somewhere in a grammar book, but I do not know where.
Please somebody shed some light on it.
Top answer
to be to is a near equivalent to to be supposed to , but is more literary or formal. was to [ + verb / + be + past participle ] shows that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past. was to have [ + past participle / + been + past participle] show that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past, and casts some doubt on whether the expectation or obligation was fulfilled.
- to be to is a near equivalent to to be supposed to , but is more literary or formal.
- was to [ + verb / + be + past participle ] shows that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past.
- was to have [ + past participle / + been + past participle] show that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past, and casts some doubt on whether the expectation or obligation was fulfilled.
- CJ
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2 Answers
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to be to is a near equivalent to to be supposed to, but is more literary or formal.
was to [ + verb / + be + past participle ] shows that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past.
was to have [ + past participle / + been + past participle] show that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past, and casts so
was to [ + verb / + be + past participle ] shows that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past.
was to have [ + past participle / + been + past participle] show that a sort of expectation or obligation existed in the past, and casts so
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