The Story of Be

A Verb's-Eye View of the English Language

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Linguistics, History
Cover of the book The Story of Be by David Crystal, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Crystal ISBN: 9780192508638
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: April 28, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: David Crystal
ISBN: 9780192508638
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: April 28, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

It's the most simple, unassuming, innocent-looking verb: 'to be'. Yet it is jam-packed with more different meanings, forms, and uses than any other English word. As he reveals be's multiple incarnations, David Crystal takes us to the heart of our flexible and changing language. He tells the intriguing story in 26 chapters, each linked to a particular usage. We meet circumstantial be ('how are you?'), numerical be ('two and two is four'), quotative be ('so I was like, "wow"'), and ludic be ('oh no he isn't!'), and a whole swarm of other meanings. Bringing the ideas to life are a host of examples from sources as varied as Beowulf, Jane Austen, pantomime, Hamlet (of course), and Star Wars, with cartoons from Ed McLachlan and Punch peppered throughout. Full of fascinating nuggets of information, it is a book to delight any lover of words and language.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

It's the most simple, unassuming, innocent-looking verb: 'to be'. Yet it is jam-packed with more different meanings, forms, and uses than any other English word. As he reveals be's multiple incarnations, David Crystal takes us to the heart of our flexible and changing language. He tells the intriguing story in 26 chapters, each linked to a particular usage. We meet circumstantial be ('how are you?'), numerical be ('two and two is four'), quotative be ('so I was like, "wow"'), and ludic be ('oh no he isn't!'), and a whole swarm of other meanings. Bringing the ideas to life are a host of examples from sources as varied as Beowulf, Jane Austen, pantomime, Hamlet (of course), and Star Wars, with cartoons from Ed McLachlan and Punch peppered throughout. Full of fascinating nuggets of information, it is a book to delight any lover of words and language.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book The Political Economy of Italy's Decline by David Crystal
Cover of the book Electronic Disclosure by David Crystal
Cover of the book The Crisis of Method in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy by David Crystal
Cover of the book Time for a Visible Hand by David Crystal
Cover of the book German Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by David Crystal
Cover of the book Public Management Reform by David Crystal
Cover of the book Outreach in Community Mental Health Care by David Crystal
Cover of the book Blackstone's Policing for the Special Constable by David Crystal
Cover of the book Beyond the Code by David Crystal
Cover of the book Acoustic Microscopy by David Crystal
Cover of the book To Comfort Always by David Crystal
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies by David Crystal
Cover of the book Textbook of Evolutionary Psychiatry by David Crystal
Cover of the book Sovereign Financing and International Law by David Crystal
Cover of the book A Dictionary of Human Resource Management by David Crystal
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy