Page 54 - Basic English Usage

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58 be + infinitive

| lamto... youareto... etc

We use this structure in a formal style to talk about plans and
arrangements, especially when they are official.
The President is to visit Nigeria next month.
We are to get a 10 per cent wage rise in June.
We also use the structure to give orders. Parents often use it to children.
You are to eat all your supper before you watch TV.
She can go to the party, but she’s not to be back late.

You can often see be + passive infinitive in notices and instructions.

|
[ (noun + is) + passive infinitive (= to be + past participle)

(This form is) to be filled in in ink.
Sometimes be is omitted.
To be taken three times a day after meals. (on a medicine bottle)
For other ways of talking about the future, see 134-140

59 be: progressive tenses

[1 am being / you are being etc + adjective/noun |

We can use this structure to talk about what people are/were doing, but
not usually to say how they are/were feeling. Compare:
You're being stupid. ( = You're doing stupid things.)
! was being very careful. (= | was doing something carefully.)
('m happy just now. (NOT Harbeing-happyjustrew-)
| was very depressed when you phoned.
(NOT +was-being-very depressed ...)
For the use of am being etc in passive verb forms, see 238.

60 because and because of

clause + because + clause
because + clause, + clause

because of + noun/pronoun

Because is a conjunction. It joins two clauses together.
| was worried because Mary was late.
Because ! was tired, | went home.
Because of is a preposition (used before a noun or a pronoun).
| was late because of the rain.