Difference between revisions of "Be"

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(Major Uses)
(Major Uses)
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*introduces present & past participles
 
*introduces present & past participles
:*present participle (<span style="color:darkgreen;font-variant:small-caps;">-ing</span>
+
:*present participle (<span style="color:darkgreen;font-variant:small-caps;">-ing</span>)
:The present participle can be interpreted as a verb, a noun (usually called a gerund), or an adjective.
+
:::The present participle can be interpreted as a verb, a noun (usually called a gerund), or an adjective.
  
::*He was writing.  (V)
+
:::*He was writing.  (V)
::*This is (his) writing. (N)
+
:::*This is (his) writing. (N)
::*It is interesting. (Adj)
+
:::*It is interesting. (Adj)
  
::Only the first is considered ''verbal''.
+
:::Only the first is considered ''verbal''.
  
::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 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.   
  
::<span style="color:darkgreen;font-variant:small-caps;">be + -ing</span> derives historically from <span style="color:green;">be + on + <i>-ing</i></span>
+
:::<span style="color:darkgreen;font-variant:small-caps;">be + -ing</span> derives historically from <span style="color:green;">be + on + <i>-ing</i></span>
  
 
:*past participle (<span style="color:darkblue;font-variant:small-caps;">-en / -ed</span>)
 
:*past participle (<span style="color:darkblue;font-variant:small-caps;">-en / -ed</span>)
::The past participle is more like a photograph than a movie.
+
:::The past participle is more like a photograph than a movie.
  
::*Lincoln and Kennedy were both assassinated.
+
:::*Lincoln and Kennedy were both assassinated.
::*Everything was frozen.  
+
:::*Everything was frozen.  
::*It was golden.  (ADJ, (predicate adjective))
+
:::*It was golden.  (ADJ, (predicate adjective))
  
  

Revision as of 10:32, 23 December 2019

Avertissement: cette page est destiné à un analyse grammatical du mot "be" :P


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
  • present participle (-ing)
The present 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 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
  • past participle (-en / -ed)
The past participle is more like a photograph than a movie.
  • Lincoln and Kennedy were both assassinated.
  • Everything was frozen.
  • It was golden. (ADJ, (predicate adjective))