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to be/being

Author	Comment
hermine	to be/being	Lead	[-]
Posts: 2034 (28/06/08 6:51 PM) Moderator More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I come back to an old question of mine: to be being How can I learn to know which one to use at the right way?
Lynne Hand		#1	[-]
Posts: 18642 (29/06/08 9:30 PM) Your Teacher More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	First of all the verb to be is more often than not a stative verb, but whenever "be" is used to describe an action and not a state it takes the -ing form:- The German defense was being very careless. But when "be" is used to describe a state it doesn't take the -ing form:- The Spanish were very happy when they scored. We also use "being" in the passive form:- The forum was very slow because the database was being updated. ----------------------- Michael Swan mentions the following:- Plans and arrangements: to talk about plans and arrangements (in a formal way), especially when they are official. The President is to visit Nigeria next month. Fate: to talk about things which are/were 'hidden in the future'. I thought we were saying goodbye for ever. But we were to meet again, many years later. Pre-conditions: in if-clauses, when the main clause expresses something that must happen first if something else is to happen. We must hurry if we are to get there by lunchtime. Orders: to give orders. You can go to the party, but you are not to be back late. Be + passive infinitive: the passive infinitive (to be + past participle) is often used in notices and instructions. This cover is not to be removed. The medicine is to be taken three times a day. (Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, OUP, pp. 87-88) Your Teacher Learn English Network
hermine		#2	[-]
Posts: 2058 (02/07/08 8:11 AM) Moderator More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks Lynne for the friendly and long explanation. I`m eager if it will go in my head...
Lynne Hand		#3	[-]
Posts: 18718 (03/07/08 9:06 PM) Your Teacher More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Well to be honest the only way it will fix in your head is to simply practise. Your Teacher Learn English Network

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