In the previous lesson I have already discussed the types of word in English, they are ; Lexical-meaning-word and structural-meaning-word. In this chance, I would like to discuss about types of Infinitives in English Grammar. When you look up your Oxford dictionary which is published and distributed by Oxford University, London - Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, by A S Hornby with A P Cowie abd A C Gimson, in Irregular Verbs Page, you'll find that /Be/ or /To Be/ is also called Infinitive (page 1005/Appendix 1). This has made most of Indonesian learners confused. Why?
First, We have known and learnt that There are two types of words; Lexical-meaning-word and Structural-meaning-word.
Second, /Be/ Is included in Structural-meaning-word because we don't get any clear or exact meaning for it. In other discussion (like above), /Be/ is also Infinitive.
Third, Infinitive is devided into two types; To Infinitive and Bare Infinitive.
From the steps identification above, we can make a temporary conclusion that /be/ is a structural-meaning-word as well as an infinitive. The Question is : "Is /be/ Bare infinitive or To infinitive? When we say that /be/ is bare infinitive, /be/ is used in,
For examples:
I am late.
She was so sorry.
Indonesia is a developing country.
Most of people around the world are rich.
In the sentence above, /be/ is bare infinitive. In other chance, /be/ can be as to infinitive.
For examples:
He wants to be a manager someday.
To be a lawyer needs high dedication.
We need to be examined.
That's why oxford dictionary gives attribute /be/ as an infinitive. It doesn't name it Bare or To infinitive. This term is to make the position of be as a general point of discussion. And let learners discuss it further.
If /be/ as an infinitive, what about others, like /go/, /swim/, /tell/, /inform/, /miss/, /come/, etc.
The verbs are also infinitive and they can be as bare infinitive and to infinitive at the same time.
For examples:
1.I never tell him a lie.
2.They want to take a risk.
In sentence one, /tell/ is bare infinitive and, in sentence two, /to take/ is to infinitive. So, there are two types of main verbs in English, they are:
1.Lexical-meaning verb in /speak/, /borrow/, /join/, /let/, /ask/, etc.
2.Structural-meaning verb in /is/, /am/, /are/, /was/, /were/, /be/ and /been/.
For Indonesian learners the sistematical concept of BE makes them dizzy. And, I find the sentence like ; "I am study English" very often. So, What's wrong with the /BE/ ?...... or, Is there something wrong with Indonesian learners? .... or There has been something wrong with the curicullum and the method of teaching?
First, We have known and learnt that There are two types of words; Lexical-meaning-word and Structural-meaning-word.
Second, /Be/ Is included in Structural-meaning-word because we don't get any clear or exact meaning for it. In other discussion (like above), /Be/ is also Infinitive.
Third, Infinitive is devided into two types; To Infinitive and Bare Infinitive.
From the steps identification above, we can make a temporary conclusion that /be/ is a structural-meaning-word as well as an infinitive. The Question is : "Is /be/ Bare infinitive or To infinitive? When we say that /be/ is bare infinitive, /be/ is used in,
For examples:
I am late.
She was so sorry.
Indonesia is a developing country.
Most of people around the world are rich.
In the sentence above, /be/ is bare infinitive. In other chance, /be/ can be as to infinitive.
For examples:
He wants to be a manager someday.
To be a lawyer needs high dedication.
We need to be examined.
That's why oxford dictionary gives attribute /be/ as an infinitive. It doesn't name it Bare or To infinitive. This term is to make the position of be as a general point of discussion. And let learners discuss it further.
If /be/ as an infinitive, what about others, like /go/, /swim/, /tell/, /inform/, /miss/, /come/, etc.
The verbs are also infinitive and they can be as bare infinitive and to infinitive at the same time.
For examples:
1.I never tell him a lie.
2.They want to take a risk.
In sentence one, /tell/ is bare infinitive and, in sentence two, /to take/ is to infinitive. So, there are two types of main verbs in English, they are:
1.Lexical-meaning verb in /speak/, /borrow/, /join/, /let/, /ask/, etc.
2.Structural-meaning verb in /is/, /am/, /are/, /was/, /were/, /be/ and /been/.
For Indonesian learners the sistematical concept of BE makes them dizzy. And, I find the sentence like ; "I am study English" very often. So, What's wrong with the /BE/ ?...... or, Is there something wrong with Indonesian learners? .... or There has been something wrong with the curicullum and the method of teaching?