Form Of The Verb "to Be" Study

Dummy verb (below called as DV) is a small closed category with many different features from other verbs. DV can be divided into two subcategories, which are JIAYI classification (below called as DVa) and JINXING classification (below called as DVb). The main feature of DV is: DV is only a grammar form without any actual meaning. The object of DV is a verb. On the basis of the former studies, we study the two typical DV members JIAYI and JINXING from the perspectives of syntax and pragmatics and look into their using conditions. Description method of structuralism such as contrast and replacement etc. are adopted.Besides the common features, there are some different features on syntax between JIAYI and JINXING. JIAYI closely sticks to its following verb and gradually acquires part of the tense of verb. JINXING is not so closely sticks to its following verb as JIAYI. Although JINXING has tense, the using frequency of different forms of tense shows a tangible imbalance, i.e. LE>GUO>ZHE. The study shows that the expansion of the main verb after DV can be attribute + V and adverbial + V. Our study also shows that when the semantic object of the verb acts as the adverbial of the sentence by the leading of preposition BA, this DV BA-structure is different from other BA-structure. The main verb of DV BA-structure cannot be expanded after the verb while other BA-structure can only be expanded after the verb. So usually only those sentences like SVOC or SVCO can be changed to BA-structures which means that the V cannot be a bare verb. The sentences which can be changed to DV BA-structure mustn't be sentences like SVOC or SVCO. After study, we find that the verbs which JIAYI can stick to have the following features: [-one syllable],[+controllable],[ +V{A,P}],[+dynamic],[-daily behavior], most of them are [+transitive].JIAYI and JINXING are quite the same on the level of pragmatics. The cohesive device is an important condition of using DV structure. As the topic moves forward, the new and old information change accordingly. The information focus moves accordingly too. The DV structure becomes a possible structure for the speaker. The function of social deixis of DV makes the DV structure can express solemn, alleviate speaking manner, emphasize speaking manner, harmonize rhythm and stress initiative etc.