Consider the difference between a so-called dynamic adjective (or subject complement) and a stative adjective (or subject complement): “I am silly” OR “I am being silly” versus “I am tall.” I have chosen to be silly; I have no choice about being tall. The Forms of “To Be” The Greek sea god, Proteus, was (like the sea) capable of changing form in an instant. google_ad_client = "pub-6676379291085385"; First, . google_color_url = "0000FF"; You: are not: a shop assistant. Notice that adverbs of frequency normally appear after forms of the verb “To be”: Notice that the adverb still appears after “To be” verbs but before other main verbs: An adverb can be interposed between the infinitive “To be” and a participle, as in the following sentences. The verb “To be” is said to be the most protean of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. 1997. Here are some more examples: Sometimes it is difficult to say whether a “To be” verb is linking a subject to a participle or if the verb and participle are part of a passive construction. This year, it will be a question of To BE or Not to BE Thankful with all … *Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln. John is upset because he has a lot of homework and he ___ like to do homework. A linking verb provides no action to a sentence: the subject complement re-identifies the subject; the adjective complement modifies it. Created by: Nikita Kovalyov Examples are our own. On the other hand, expletive constructions do give us an interesting means of setting out or organizing the work of a subsequent paragraph: Verb phrases containing "be" verbs are often merely roundabout ways of saying something better said with a simple verb. google_color_text = "000000"; The fear of splitting an infinitive is without grounds in this construction. google_ad_height = 250; [ The verb to be - Information questions  ]. For instance, the police might report that “The professor was assaulted in the hallways” because they do not know the perpetrator of this heinous crime. Thus, “She is being a good worker” (because she chooses to be so), but we would say “She is (not is being) an Olympic athlete” (because once she becomes an athlete she no longer “wills it”). google_ad_height = 250; The “To be” will change form to indicate whether the subject is singular or plural: Notice how the information about who did the action is frequently found in a prepositional phrase beginning with “by.” Passive constructions do not always include this information: The “To be” will also change to indicate the time of the action and the aspect of the verb (simple, progressive, perfect). The “To be” verb can be combined with other modal forms (along with the past participle of the main verb) to convey other kinds of information. [ The verb to be - yes / no questions ] We must choose carefully among these various forms when selecting the proper verb to go with our subject. Short grammar reference and practice exercises. google_color_text = "000000"; In order to get any decent information out of him, you had to grab him and hold on tight while he went through his various forms — lion, wild boar, snake, tree, running stream — it wasn't easy. Getting started is simple — download Grammarly’s extension today. In the second sentence, the predicate adjective “welcome” describes the feeling that the jurists must have had upon being so welcomed. google_ad_format = "300x250_as"; It is acceptable. google_ad_channel ="2154566617"; (We would not say, “Two plus two is equaling four.”) In the same way, nouns and pronouns can be said to exhibit willed and unwilled characteristics.

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