was + infinitive (No one was to blame)

[Violino]

Hi, could someone write the bolded part in another words and explain when we use such a construction? Because I think I can understand it with context, however, I can't use it myself.

[Kitosdad]

It was no ones fault.
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[Iraqi]

You are right Kitosdad, but "ones" needs an apostrophe.

[NikJames]

This is just another way of saying "there was no one to blame". So essentially in this sentence the order of the words can be changed slightly. It seems like this sentence structure only works when a person or thing is performing or receiving an action.

Example:

Someone was to die tonight.
No one was to die tonight.
No one was to sing tonight.
No one was to get hurt tonight.
No movie was to be seen tonight.
John was to be present tonight.

However, this is not really conversational speech, and would sound a little strange to most people. This form is mostly used in writing.

http://www.CoolAmericanEnglish.com

[Violino]

[Natasha81]

TO be + infinitive has several functions in the sentence. These are the most common ones.
1.
1) The train is to arrive in ten minutes. (planned/scheduled action).-Train must arrive in ten minutes.
2) John was to be present tonight. John was meant to come (it was arranged. (planned/scheduled action). In these cases "to be +infinitive" replaces MUST, and expresses expectation rather than obligation.
2.
1) The doors to be painted are dirty. What doors are dirty? -The doors that need/must/will (to) be painted.
2) The function to attend is going to be boring. What function is going to be boring? -The function that must/will be attended. In these examples “To be+ infinitive” serves as a description.
3.
1) They were not to get married. -They did not get married, it was not meant to happen.
2) Alas, I am not to be a Harvard student. -What a shame that I am not destined to be a Harvard student.
3) I am to get rich. -It is my destiny to become rich.
In the examples above the construction indicates an action that is meant or not meant to happen.
Hope, it helps.

[Violino]

Yes, it helps me a lot, thank you, Natasha:)