In the sentence ‘Who has to be punished?’, the verb ‘be’ is used, not ‘is’. This might raise questions about why ‘is’ isn’t used here, especially since ‘is’ is commonly used to describe a state or condition in English. Let’s explore why ‘be’ is appropriate in this context and when it is used instead of ‘is’.
1. Understanding the Role of ‘Be’ in English
The verb ‘be’ is an auxiliary verb (also known as a linking verb) that helps form different tenses and passive structures in English. In the sentence ‘Who has to be punished?’, the verb ‘be’ is part of the passive voice construction. The phrase ‘to be punished’ describes a state or action that is happening to the subject, rather than something the subject is actively doing. The passive voice focuses on the action (being punished) rather than the person performing it.
2. When to Use ‘Be’ Instead of ‘Is’
‘Is’ is a form of the verb ‘be’, but it is used in different contexts. ‘Is’ is typically used for present tense situations where the subject is a singular noun or pronoun. For example, ‘He is happy’ or ‘The book is on the table.’ However, when you are talking about something that is going to happen or is required in the future, you use ‘be’ in its base form. In the case of ‘Who has to be punished?’, the verb ‘has to’ indicates a necessity or requirement, and ‘be’ is used to form the passive structure ‘to be punished.’
3. Why Passive Voice Requires ‘Be’
The sentence ‘Who has to be punished?’ is in the passive voice, which emphasizes the action (being punished) over the person who is doing the punishing. In English, when forming the passive voice with modal verbs like ‘has to’, ‘be’ is used in its base form, regardless of the subject. For example, in a passive construction, you would say ‘The task has to be completed,’ not ‘The task has to is completed.’
4. Differences Between Active and Passive Voice
In active voice, the subject performs the action. For example, ‘The teacher punishes the student.’ In passive voice, the focus shifts to the action or state the subject experiences, and the subject becomes the receiver of the action: ‘The student is punished by the teacher.’ Passive voice is commonly used when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or less relevant. In the sentence ‘Who has to be punished?’, the focus is on the action (punishment), not the person performing it, which is why passive construction is used.
5. Summary: The Correct Use of ‘Be’ in Passive Voice
In summary, the use of ‘be’ in the sentence ‘Who has to be punished?’ is correct because it forms part of the passive construction. In passive voice sentences, ‘be’ is used in its base form with modal verbs, while ‘is’ is typically used in present tense active voice sentences. Understanding the difference between active and passive voice and how ‘be’ functions in passive constructions helps clarify why ‘be’ is used here instead of ‘is.’
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