Different Functions of "to Be"
In the English language, the verb 'to be' (also known as the copula) has several distinct functions:
- identity, of the form "noun copula definite-noun" ;
- class membership, of the form "noun copula noun"
- predication, of the form "noun copula adjective"
- auxiliary, of the form "noun copula verb" ; . The examples illustrate two different uses of 'be' as an auxiliary. In the first 'be' is part of the progressive aspect, used with "-ing" on the verb, and in the second it is part of the passive, as indicated by the perfect participle of a transitive verb.
- existence, of the form "there copula noun"
- location, of the form "noun copula place-phrase" ;
Bourland sees specifically the "identity" and "predication" functions as pernicious, but advocates eliminating all forms for the sake of simplicity. In the case of the "existence" form (and less idiomatically, the "location" form), one might (for example) simply substitute the verb "exists". Other copula-substitutes in English include taste, feel, smell, sound, grow, remain, stay, and turn, among others a user of E-prime might use instead of to be.
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Famous quotes containing the word functions:
“Adolescents, for all their self-involvement, are emerging from the self-centeredness of childhood. Their perception of other people has more depth. They are better equipped at appreciating others’ reasons for action, or the basis of others’ emotions. But this maturity functions in a piecemeal fashion. They show more understanding of their friends, but not of their teachers.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)