Difference between revisions of "Be"
From Creolista!
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*<span style="color:darkblue;font-variant:small-caps;">Subject '''is''' P:</span> ''The sun is up. The network is down. The story is out.'' | *<span style="color:darkblue;font-variant:small-caps;">Subject '''is''' P:</span> ''The sun is up. The network is down. The story is out.'' | ||
| − | + | *introduces present & past participles (-ing) / (-en / -ed) | |
==continuous / progressive (be + -<i>ing</i>)== | ==continuous / progressive (be + -<i>ing</i>)== | ||
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The terms "continuous" and "progressive" are both inappropriate in some ways. The use of be + ing usually implies that the speaker is putting the listener in the middle of the action "in medias res": the speaker or writer is like a filmmaker recording an action. Alternately, it can indicate a series of occurrences. | The terms "continuous" and "progressive" are both inappropriate in some ways. The use of be + ing usually implies that the speaker is putting the listener in the middle of the action "in medias res": the speaker or writer is like a filmmaker recording an action. Alternately, it can indicate a series of occurrences. | ||
| − | + | <i>be + -ing</i> derives historically from <span style="color:goldenrod;">be + on + <i>-ing</i></span> | |
==passive voice marker (be + -<i>en</i>)== | ==passive voice marker (be + -<i>en</i>)== | ||
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*Everything was frozen. | *Everything was frozen. | ||
*It was golden. (ADJ, (predicate adjective)) | *It was golden. (ADJ, (predicate adjective)) | ||
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[[Category:100-en]] | [[Category:100-en]] | ||
Revision as of 11:24, 23 December 2019
Avertissement: cette page est destiné à un analyse grammatical du mot "be" :P
Contents
[hide]Forms
- dictionary form (bare infinitive): be
- present tense: am (1s), is (3s), are (1p, 2s/p, 3p)
- past tense: was (1s, 3s), were (1p, 2s/p, 3p)
- present participle: being
- past participle: been
Major Uses
Most fundamentally be is a copula.
- Subject is NP: She is the boss.
- Subject is AdjP: The cat's paws are muddy.
- Subject is PP: Your keys are on the table.
- Subject is P: The sun is up. The network is down. The story is out.
- introduces present & past participles (-ing) / (-en / -ed)
continuous / progressive (be + -ing)
Much has been said about this active voice tense. Present tense participles following the copula are common. The participle can be interpreted as a verb, a noun (usually called a gerund), or an adjective.
- He was writing. (V)
- This is (his) writing. (N)
- It is interesting. (Adj)
Only the first is considered verbal.
The terms "continuous" and "progressive" are both inappropriate in some ways. The use of be + ing usually implies that the speaker is putting the listener in the middle of the action "in medias res": the speaker or writer is like a filmmaker recording an action. Alternately, it can indicate a series of occurrences.
be + -ing derives historically from be + on + -ing
passive voice marker (be + -en)
- Lincoln and Kennedy were both assassinated.
- Everything was frozen.
- It was golden. (ADJ, (predicate adjective))
