A list of 10 words by lbeaumont.
- has beenwas added by lbeaumont and appears on 2 lists
- will bewas added by lbeaumont and appears on just this list
- beenwas added by lbeaumont and appears on 23 lists
- beingwas added by lbeaumont and appears on 33 lists
- bewas added by lbeaumont and appears on 65 lists
- arewas added by lbeaumont and appears on 48 lists
- werewas added by lbeaumont and appears on 23 lists
- iswas added by lbeaumont and appears on 72 lists
- amwas added by lbeaumont and appears on 32 lists
- waswas added by lbeaumont and appears on 38 lists
bilby commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
What about something like equals?
"Four plus three equals seven."
"Four plus three is seven."
Functionally I can't see any difference between the two sentences, hence equals is taking the role of is.
January 5, 2011
yarb commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Bilby, I think in your example it's rather is that's substituting (as a convenience) for equals. Even staying in the sphere of maths I think there is a distinction. "Equals" in your example here is shorthand for "is the sum of". Three plus four equals seven, but seven doesn't equal a prime number - it is a prime.
"I am a man".
"I am equal to a man".
Not all verbs of being were created equal.
January 5, 2011
yarb commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
And shouldn't will be will be?
January 5, 2011
bilby commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Wilby's my cousin, but he lets me call him Will.
January 5, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
I was going to make some kind of France is Ford copula joke, but then I read the first example sentence on copula and got distracted.
January 5, 2011
milosrdenstvi commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
In Greek the "to be" verb can be also functionally translated in certain instances as "exists", as also in English "Beauty exists" conveying much the same as "Beauty is".
January 5, 2011
reesetee commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Bilby, does that mean you're related to whichbe?
January 10, 2011
bilby commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Couldby.
January 10, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Whatever wallaby will be.
January 10, 2011
fbharjo commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Thrillaby thought he taught tight tautology!
All for naught - to be?
January 11, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
That is the question.
January 11, 2011
reesetee commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
What is the question?
January 11, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the list state-of-being-verbs
Wallaby or not wallaby. That is the question.
--Wilby Shkspr
January 11, 2011