Sunday, 20 April 2008 :: 11:32

Question

Hi,

Many sentences use is/am/are + to ...
I am a little bit confused the usage of 'be + to' here
and
what is really the meaning of 'be + to'
1. I am to take that book tomorrow
2. I have to take that book tomorrow
3. I will take that book tomorrow

Which sentences are correct?
Could anyone explain please...

Regards,

Answers

All the sentences are correct. 2 and 3 are fairly obvious, but I understand your problem with number 1.
You'd rarely hear it said, but it is used in specific circumstances.
e.g.What do you have to do tomorrow?
- I am to take the book to her.
It describes something you must do (usually an order from someone else). It usually implies something you would rather not do, but that you have no choice other than to do it.
e.g.
I'm to take his children to the airport at 5 pm.
She's to go to her room, and that's final.
I'm to accept the terms of the offer, or they'll take further action.
Hope this helps, it's a rarely used structure though.

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It doesn't have to be something you would rather not do, nor is it necessarily an order. It means something you will do in the future.
eg. I am to play Jack in the pantomime this year.

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Occasionally, perhaps, Eigenfunction, that's why I said 'usually'.
But I feel that with this structure, it is nine times out of ten used with a tone of resentment. The choice of not using an active construction, i.e. 'I am playing Jack in the pantomime this year' illustrates that the decision or request came from elsewhere, and that it was beyond the speaker/writer's control.

Reply from WordReference Forum / 11:32

Question

Hi,

Many sentences use is/am/are + to ...
I am a little bit confused the usage of 'be + to' here
and
what is really the meaning of 'be + to'
1. I am to take that book tomorrow
2. I have to take that book tomorrow
3. I will take that book tomorrow

Which sentences are correct?
Could anyone explain please...

Regards,

Answers

All the sentences are correct. 2 and 3 are fairly obvious, but I understand your problem with number 1.
You'd rarely hear it said, but it is used in specific circumstances.
e.g.What do you have to do tomorrow?
- I am to take the book to her.
It describes something you must do (usually an order from someone else). It usually implies something you would rather not do, but that you have no choice other than to do it.
e.g.
I'm to take his children to the airport at 5 pm.
She's to go to her room, and that's final.
I'm to accept the terms of the offer, or they'll take further action.
Hope this helps, it's a rarely used structure though.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It doesn't have to be something you would rather not do, nor is it necessarily an order. It means something you will do in the future.
eg. I am to play Jack in the pantomime this year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Occasionally, perhaps, Eigenfunction, that's why I said 'usually'.
But I feel that with this structure, it is nine times out of ten used with a tone of resentment. The choice of not using an active construction, i.e. 'I am playing Jack in the pantomime this year' illustrates that the decision or request came from elsewhere, and that it was beyond the speaker/writer's control.