be to + 动词原形:表示按计划/安排将要发生,或命令、义务、注定等含义(常见于较正式的书面语)。
常见意思:
按计划/安排:将要……(is/are to do)
命令/规定:必须……(is/are to do)
注定/结果:终将……(was/were to do)
例句 Examples
The meeting is to start at 9 a.m.
会议定于上午九点开始。
He was to discover, years later, that the letter had never been sent, which changed how he understood their entire friendship.
多年后他终将发现那封信从未寄出,这改变了他对他们整段友谊的理解。
发音 Pronunciation (IPA)
/biː tuː/
/bi tə/(在句中弱读时常见)
词源 Etymology
be to 来自动词 be(“是/处于某种状态”)与不定式标记 to 的组合。英语里用“系动词 + 不定式”来表达计划安排、义务规定或将要发生的结果,这种用法在较早的英语书面表达中已逐渐固定,至今仍常见于新闻、公告、叙述体小说等较正式语境。