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 #2 (permalink) Wed Jan 18, 2012 15:34 pm Modal verb to be |
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| As far as I'm aware, there is no situation in which "be" is considered a modal verb. You may mean something else. Can you give an example of the sort of usage you are thinking of? |
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Dozy
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| #3 (permalink) Wed Jan 18, 2012 21:32 pm Modal verb to be |
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| For example. The plane is to arrive at 6 o'clock. or She is to die. |
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Lily Alex
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Dozy
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:23 am Modal verb to be |
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| Dear Dozy, I liked the link, but here in Armenia we are taught "to be to is a modal verb". So, that's not right? Or there is some explanation to this? |
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Lily Alex
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| #6 (permalink) Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:44 am Modal verb to be |
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Hi Lily,
A definition of a modal verb usually describes a verb that is defective in the sense that it doesn't have parts such as participle and infinitive. Examples are: may/might/can/ought to and so on. This doesn't apply of course to the verb 'be to'. It is simply a construction indicating that something has been arranged to happen.
Alan
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Alan
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| #7 (permalink) Thu Jan 19, 2012 13:21 pm Modal verb to be |
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| Further to Alan's reply, I have never anywhere seen "be" itself listed as a "modal verb", but it is possible that the construction "is/are/etc. to <verb>" could, overall, be considered to have a modal flavour. Perhaps that is the explanation. |
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Dozy
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| #8 (permalink) Thu Jan 19, 2012 14:43 pm Modal verb to be |
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| Alan wrote: |
| Examples are: may/might/can/ought to and so on |
"ought TO" - what is "to" in this case? Is this a particle?
What I think about "to be to" is that this is not right. The right way to build this construction is "to be" + infinitive (with the particle to).
For example: to be + to ride a bike. He is to ride a bike.
I remember I was reading about this issue some 7 years ago, but unfortunately my memory is not that much good... |
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Bwriter
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| #9 (permalink) Fri Jan 20, 2012 0:30 am Modal verb to be |
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| Now I see what is what! Thank you everybody for your attention :) |
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Lily Alex
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