Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Sina]

Hey everybody,

here I am again with a loads of questions.......No, I was just kidding. Got just one question that is to be pretty easy to you.............I think
Well, the sentence...
"...but there seems little doubt, given the numerous of witnesses...

What does it mean at all? I read it that often but I coulnd't make it out....

And by the way, could you explain to me when one uses "is to be...was to be". I know I have already written it above but actually, I haven't really got it....
Could you help me, please??Bye.

[bud]

Well, there is a mistake in the quote. It needs to be,

"...but there seems little doubt, given the numerous witnesses..." (no "of")

or

"...but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses..."

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"...but there seems little doubt..." = "Evidently everyone is nearly certain..."

"... given the number of witnesses... " = "... in light of what many witnesses (have said)..."

In other words, because so many witnesses have testified to something, everyone is fairly well convinced of that something.

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If something is to be, we know that that something will happen. Sometimes we don't know that it will happen, but we strongly expect that it will happen. It is fated to be, unless something unforeseen prevents it.

Ex. It is to be that New Orleans will be rebuilt.

Was to be is said of something that "is to be" except that it was an expectation in the past.

Hopefully in 2010, someone will say:

I visited New Orleans in December, 2005, when it was to be rebuilt.

Another example: He met Maria, who was to be his wife, in college. (When they met, they did not know they would fall in love and get married. This is a way to say that Maria later became his wife, but they were not married at the time the statement refers to.)

Or... Everyone knew they were to be. (Everyone knew that they would eventually get married, and they eventually did.)

[Sina]

Hey, thanks bud..You explained it pretty well...
but yet I've got a question...
could you give other words for "given"..(in that special context in the quote)..
I read that is to be is a kind of "shall" ..
From what you pointed out, we can draw the conclusion that "is to be" somehow exresses the future..and does that mean that "will" =is to be? Can I use them in the same context? What do you use more often? Thanks for reply..

[bud]

You're welcome.

"Given" means "in light of the fact that" or "considering the fact that."

Well, "shall" is really a form of "will," right? I wouldn't say that you could use them interchangeably. I would say that it can be used for things that have been decided (like a mayor-elect who has not yet been inaugurated into office) or for things that you just know in your heart will happen (like a couple that is not yet married). (sorry, but I can't think of a definitive instruction to tell you here.)