4 ms·

> the sentence without verb What's "be" if it's not a verb?

• dragonwriter 6y ago
  > What's "be" if it's not a verb? The phrase “to be” is an infinitive verb, and in this “sentence” is a component of the adjective phrase “more succinct than it needs to be” (which is modified by the adverb “sometimes”, remaining an adjective phrase). When talking about the basic parts of a sentence (or, more generally, an independent clause), the required “verb” (the predicate) is more precisely a finite verb, which this phrase does not have. It also lacks a subject. And, for that matter, an object, though that's not generally required. It's just a freestanding adjective phrase. Sad.
  • zimpenfish 6y ago
    > the required “verb” (the predicate) is more precisely a finite verb You mean every "sentence" must have a "finite verb"? Do you have a good url explaining that?