4
   

Though it be. Why does it become 'BE', not is?

Forums: English, Grammar
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nateriver
 
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 05:16 am
Here is a sentence.
This insight into mystery of life, coupled though it 'be' with fear, has also give rise to religion.

(http://sciphilos.info/docs_pages/docs_Einstein_fulltext_css.html)


When I first read it, I thought it was a typo. But It wasn't. Some grammar books say that words such as however, despite the fact that and even though it 'be' are all the same.

why do you have use be? instead of is? like - this insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it 'is' with fear... -

Please let me know it. I can't sleep because of this. Thanks in advance.


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Type: Question • Score: 4 • Views: 5,011 • Replies: 19
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Frank Apisa
 
  1  
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 05:32 am
@nateriver,
There is a "conditional" element involved.

Sounds to me like a subjunctive mood situation, but we've got grammar experts on the forum who may give a definitive response.
0 Replies
 
contrex
 
  2  
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 06:06 am
quite technical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_subjunctive#Present_subjunctive

less technical:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-subjunctive.htm
izzythepush
 
  2  
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 06:21 am
@contrex,
Far less technical.

McTag
 
  2  
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 11:50 am
@izzythepush,

Jack and the Beanstalk. The giant speaks

"Fee, fie. fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman-
Be he alive, or be he dead
I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

The subjunctive is still among us

"If I were a rich man,
Deedle didle didle diddle diddle deedle didle dum..."

THis is good stuff, contrex

Long live the King!
God bless America!
Heaven forbid!
Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
Come what may, I will never forget you.
We are all citizens of the world, as it were.
0 Replies
 
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sat 14 Jul, 2012 12:36 pm
"Let It Be" - the Beatles (cf. ainsi soit-il in French)
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sun 15 Jul, 2012 01:54 am
@contrex,

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen....

Hey we could start a new thread, Subjunctive Of The Day.

Let the news go forth from this time and place......
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sun 15 Jul, 2012 02:24 am
@McTag,
My girlfriend, who recently completed an OU degree in modern languages, told me "If you thought the French subjunctive was hard, wait till you try Spanish!"
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Mon 16 Jul, 2012 09:26 pm
Mookbark
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 02:22 am
@JTT,

This one is finished, I think. This parade has passed. Have you got a shovel for the cleanup?
0 Replies
 
roger
 
  1  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 02:28 am
@McTag,
We're not the subjuncts of anyone over here.
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 02:33 am
@roger,

Quote:
We're not the subjuncts of anyone over here.


Okay but I gave you a bit of JFK as well.... Wink
0 Replies
 
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 07:54 pm
@roger,
Quote:
We're not the subjuncts of anyone over here.


If that's so, Roger, then why do you let your presidents act like monarchs rushing hither and yon invading sovereign nations, murdering innocent souls, all to let their small group "nobility" steal the wealth from those countries?

All you riff raff get is the chance to fund these sordid escapades?
joefromchicago
 
  2  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 08:20 pm
@JTT,
JTT wrote:

Quote:
We're not the subjuncts of anyone over here.


If that's so, Roger, then why do you let your presidents act like monarchs rushing hither and yon invading sovereign nations, murdering innocent souls, all to let their small group "nobility" steal the wealth from those countries?

Quite possibly the quintessential JTT post. A self-righteous denunciation of American war crimes flavored with a grammar screed, wrapped in a layer of stupid and served in a traditional Canadian manner.
JTT
 
  0  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 08:29 pm
@joefromchicago,
Quote:
A self-righteous denunciation of American war crimes


What would be your preference to denounce American war crimes, Joe?

joefromchicago
 
  2  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 08:39 pm
@JTT,
On a thread that wasn't devoted to a discussion of the proper use of the subjunctive.
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Tue 17 Jul, 2012 09:02 pm
@joefromchicago,
Yup, that's exactly what Roger did, devote his comments to the proper use of the subjunctive.

Quote:
On a thread that wasn't devoted to a discussion of the proper use of the subjunctive.


Go ahead and start one, Joe.
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Wed 18 Jul, 2012 02:03 am

Now stoppit, or you'll go to bed with no supper.
0 Replies
 
joefromchicago
 
  1  
Reply Wed 18 Jul, 2012 08:34 am
@JTT,
And the dumb just keeps coming. You do realize that Roger wrote "subjuncts," not "subjects," right? It was what we in the States like to call a "joke," you humorless Canuck.

JTT wrote:
Go ahead and start one, Joe.

After you, Gaston.
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Wed 18 Jul, 2012 07:26 pm
@joefromchicago,
You certainly know dumb, Joe, what with that dumb prescription that you launched, which, it must be noted, was completely off topic, not to mention ludicrous.

There are so many people who go so off topic on so many threads that this move of yours is so transparently silly.
0 Replies
 
 

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