User:DCDuring/be observations

From 1985, Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech, Jan Svartvik, A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language

Verbs of intermediate function

(ie, between full verbs and modal auxiliaries)

modal idioms

• be to (be to) (See be#Verb.)

semi-auxiliaries

• be about to (?)
• be able to (comparable, superlative, degree adverbs, manner adverbs?)
• be apt to
• be bound to (?)
• be due to
• be going to (?)
• be likely to
• be meant to
• be obliged to (comparable, superlative, degree adverbs, manner adverbs)
• be supposed to (?)
• be willing to (comparable, superlative, degree adverbs, manner adverbs)
• etc.

Wiktionary searches

• Search for Wiktionary entries of the form be "X" to

Expressions that include be and should (7)

• be supposed to
• it's better to be judged by twelve than to be carried by six
• you have to be good to be lucky
• eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die
• would you be so kind as to
• you've got to be in it to win it
• be going to

Expressions that include be, but shouldn't (11)

No redirects or translation hubs should be included

Usually can be used with other copulatives.

• be used to + N
• be able to + V
• be on to + N
• be up to + N
• not be able to hit the broad side of a barn Pred
• be gathered to one's fathers Pred
• be used to + N
• be cruel to be kind Pred
• be a hundred years too early Pred
• be able to count on one's fingers Pred
• be no stranger to + N

Redirects that include be (9)

• be on top of + N
• be in touch Pred
• be the way to go Pred
• be partial to + N
• be bound to + V
• be glad to see the back of + N
• never put off till tomorrow what can be done today Prov
• be at the top of one's game Pred
• be surplus to requirements Pred

Redirects with not (5)

• not be able to wait Pred
• be unable to believe one's eyes Pred
• not to be able to say boo to a goose Pred
• not be able to get a word in edgeways Pred
• be unable to carry a tune in a bucket Pred

Other(4)

• be not to know (1)
• FL terms (3)

Phrasebook items

• be called
• be careful
• it can't be helped
• be right back
• be thankful for small mercies

From American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

mostly potential phrasebook type entries, D for discourse role

• be careful D {careful}
• be for (be for doing something, be for something) {for}
• be game {game}
• be given precedence over (be given precedence over something, be given precedence over soneone) {precedence over, precedence}
• be good D {good}
• be happy to (happy}
• be in aid of {in aid of}
• be just before you're generous {just, generous}
• be my guest {guest}
• be one's brother's keeper, be someone's brother's keeper {brother's keeper}
• be one's own man, be one's own master
• be quiet
• be so bold as to, make so bold as to D {so bold}
• be that as it may D
• be the last person to {last person}
• be there or be square
• be too, be so D {too, so}