is vs is to be

[Naveednu]

1) Which one is correct and why?
The beauty is found in humans.
The beauty is to be found in humans.
I am a new learner and don't know much about grammar. Why "To be" is used in a sentence by the way?
2) Why we use had been in place of was or were?
The woman had been afraid.
The woman was afraid.
Which one is correct?

[Alan]

Hi,

'Beauty' is an abstract noun and doesn't usually take the definite article. The sentences can be: Beauty is found in humans or Beauty is to be found in humans. The use of 'to be found' suggests 'can possibly be found.'

The other two sentences:

The woman had been afraid.
The woman was afraid.

are both correct. They are two different tenses.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Naveednu]

But when they are used especially these different sentences?
The woman had been afraid.
The woman was afraid.

[Alan]

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Hi,

Let me use them both to show the different tenses:

The woman had been (past perfect) afraid before she saw (past simple) the accident. (The sequence is - first she was afraid -second she saw)

The woman was (past simple) afraid when she saw (past simple) the accident. (Both actions happened at the same time in the past)

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms