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To be to

 

§ 158. To be to as a modal verb is used in the present and past indefinite tenses.

 

To be to expresses:

 

1. An obligation arising out of an arrangement or plan. It is found in statements and questions.

 

We are to complete this work by tomorrow. (Somebody expects it.)

I am to go down in my car and pick up the parcels.

When is the wedding to be?

When am I to come?

Who is to be the first?

The ship was to dock on Sunday.

I was to meet Mother at the dentist’s at 11.

 

The last two sentences in which to be is in the past indefinite do not indicate whether the action did or did not take place.

On the other hand this form is the only way to indicate a fulfilled action in the past.

 

I was to meet Mother at 11 (and I did).

The prize was to honour him for his great discoveries.

 

To emphasize that the action did not take place the perfect infinitive is used after the past indefinite of the verb to be to.

 

She was to have graduated in June, but unfortunately fell ill.

 

The present indefinite may signify an arrangement (especially official) for the future, or referring to no particular time.

 

The German Chancellor is to visit France.

A knife is to cut with.

 

2. A strict order or an instruction given either by the speaker or (more usually) by some official authority.

 

He is to return to Liverpool tomorrow (he has been given orders to return to Liverpool).

You are to stay here until I return (I tell you to ...).

You are to do it exactly the way you are told.

 

Note the difference between to be to and to have to:

 

Soldiers have to salute their officers (such is customary obligation, the general rule).

All junior officers are to report to the colonel at once (an order).

 

3. Strict prohibition (only in the negative form).

 

You are not to do that.

You are not to tell anybody about it.

We are not to leave the place until we are told to.

You are not to smoke in this room.

 

4. Something that is destined to happen or is unavoidable. It corresponds to the Russian суждено, предстоит.

 

I didn’t know at the time that she was to be my wife (что ей суждено было стать моей женой).

As a young man he didn’t know that he was to become a famous scientist (ему суждено было стать

знаменитым ученым).

If we are to be neighbours for life we should be on friendly terms (если нам предстоит всю жизнь быть

соседями...).

Не was never to see her again (ему больше никогда не суждено было ее увидеть).

It was not to be (этому не суждено было сбыться).

 

Sometimes it may be translated by the Russian verb хотеть, especially after the conjunction if.

 

If we are to get there on time, we must start at once (если мы хотим прийти вовремя, надо сразу

отправляться).

 

5. Impossibility. In negative sentences or in sentences containing words with negative meaning the verb to be to implies impossibility. In this case the passive form of the non-perfect infinitive is used, unless it is a question beginning with the interrogative adverbs how, where.

 

They are not to be trusted.

Nothing was to be done under the circumstances.

He was nowhere to be found.

Where is the man to be found?

How am I to repay you for your kindness?

 

This meaning is similar to the meaning of can and may.

 

Here are some set expressions with the verb to be to:

 

What am I to do? Что мне делать? Как мне быть?

What is to become of me? Что со мною станется (будет)?

Where am I to go? Куда же мне деваться?

 


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