Is "to be" active or passive?

[bkadoctaj]

So, this thought has been in my mind all day long, and I just have to let it out. I hope that some of you will find this topic as interesting and mind-bending as I have, but I know that talk about copulas such as "to be" has become somewhat trite. Nonetheless, I feel it is important and I'd really like to have as many people's opinions on the issue as I can get. So, this is a call out to all of you with the patience to discuss something so (seemingly, perhaps) mundane.

Anyway, we use forms of "to be" all the time. Its vagueness has even inspired the creation of a type of writing known as e-prime, in which all forms of the verb are to be strictly avoided. I think that is perhaps a little bit too much, but hey, what do I know?

Getting to the point, "to be" is tricky when it comes to verb passivity and activity.

For example, the passive voice is formed with "to be" (third person singular conjugation = is). Also, however, "to be" can be used as a command or an action.

Example of a command: "Be more friendly to people." Here we are talking about the subject (whoever is being commanded, so it's implicit) being told to change: to be something it is not yet. That requires an action, correct?

Example of an action: "He is going to the store." Here we are talking about an action, going, and how (what action is taken) he is doing it. The how is not an adverb, but rather simply what he (for lack of a better word) is doing (what action he is taking to go). This use of "to be" followed by a word ending in -ing shows that action occurs over time.

This leads us to an interesting idea. Does being passive over time lead to apparent action? Is is a word that demonstrates this through linguistic logic? (Or, more amusingly, is action done by non-action being passive?)

I've decided that, after viewing Wiktionary's English entry on the word "be", it's worth posting on the forum because it truly shows the depth of the word. You see, I tend to view each word as the collection of all its connotations at once. Sure, used in context the word takes on a more distinct form, but still it tends to at least subconsciously connote its other meanings. Thus, here are the key ones:

Verb

be (highly irregular)

1. 
   (intransitive) To occupy a place.

   The cup is on the table.

2. 
   (intransitive) To occur, to take place.

   When will the meeting be?

3. 
   (intransitive) (without predicate) To exist.
4. 
   (intransitive) (without predicate) elliptical form of for "be here", "go to and return from" or similar.

   The postman has been today, but my tickets have still not yet come.
   I have been to Spain many times.

5. 
   (transitive, copular) Used to indicate that the subject and object are the same.

   Ignorance is bliss.

6. 
   (transitive, copular, mathematics) Used to indicate that the values on either side of an equation are the same.

   3 times 5 is fifteen.

7. 
   (transitive, copular) Used to indicate that the subject plays the role of the object.

   François Mitterrand was president of France from 1981 to 1995.

8. 
   (transitive, copular) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it.

   The sky is blue.

9. 
   (transitive, copular) Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.

   The sky is a deep blue today.

10. 
    (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the passive voice.

    The dog was drowned by the boy.

11. 
    (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the continuous forms of various tenses.

    The woman is walking.
    I shall be writing to you soon.
    We liked to chat while we were eating.

12. 
    (archaic) Used to form the perfect aspect with certain intransitive verbs. Often still used for to go.

    They are not yet come back. (Macbeth by William Shakespeare) (instead of They have not yet come back.)
    He is gone.

13. 
    (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form future tenses, especially the future subjunctive.

    I am to leave tomorrow.
    I would drive you, were I to obtain a car.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#English

[chris782]

Any one else confused? I have a D in English

[blackdahlia515]

I'd think both. You're actively being whatever you are, but at the same time you're passively, being (alive).

[seahag]

how do active and passive relate?

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by blackdahlia515

I'd think both. You're actively being whatever you are, but at the same time you're passively, being (alive).

The question is, aren't active and passive conventionally opposites? How can a word be both?

[CosmicSerpent]

I vote passive. Coming into existence is active, the ending of existence is active, but the state of existence itself is passive.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by CosmicSerpent

I vote passive. Coming into existence is active, the ending of existence is active, but the state of existence itself is passive.

Passive Voice:
One is (passively) by being.

[chivo]

Originally Posted by CosmicSerpent

I vote passive. Coming into existence is active, the ending of existence is active, but the state of existence itself is passive.

please elaborate. you've proved nothing yet.

[w33n]

I think "be" would be an active word but as soon as you add "to" to the begining it sounds like a passive future-tense statement.

[blackdahlia515]

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

The question is, aren't active and passive conventionally opposites? How can a word be both?

They're opposites and it can be both because of balance.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by blackdahlia515

They're opposites and it can be both because of balance.

So, what does that say about the word is? Does that mean it does something special? Does that mean we can misconstrue its meaning? Does it mean we can interpret it two separate ways at once? Does it mean we're more likely to interpret it one way based on our personal life experiences? On a deeper level, does our interpretation of it come from whether or not we view ourselves as having control of our existence?

[blackdahlia515]

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

So, what does that say about the word is? Does that mean it does something special? Does that mean we can misconstrue its meaning? Does it mean we can interpret it two separate ways at once? Does it mean we're more likely to interpret it one way based on our personal life experiences? On a deeper level, does our interpretation of it come from whether or not we view ourselves as having control of our existence?

The word "is" states a condition or location. That's a bullshit question in my opinion.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by blackdahlia515

The word "is" states a condition or location. That's a bullshit question in my opinion.

States sounds active to me. And there were many questions. I'm just throwing them out there.

[blackdahlia515]

is can also signify passiveness(is that a word?) now that I think about it.

the car is red, the car is not actively being red, but it is indeed red.

Bush is fucking America pretty hard. Verb, active.


EDIT- word games based on language and use of it are bullshit too.

[bkadoctaj]

Cheng Hao had this to say:

"When one says that there is non-being, the word "is" is superfluous. When one says that there is not being, the term "is not" is superfluous. Being and non-being are comparable to activity and tranquility. Before winter solstice, when heaven and earth seem to close up, tranquility prevails, and yet the sun, the moon, and the stars move by themselves without cease. Can it be said to be without activity? Only people do not understand the true nature of being and non-being, and activity and tranquility!"

- From the I Shu