Usage of be to do
The text below is an excerpt from A Tour on the Praries by W. Irving. This work is an account of his trip to the then Far West, namely the regions west of Missisippi.
I have an unsure point(bracketed between[]).

Context:The narrator introduces his co-travellers, among whom is a versatile man, nay, a "factotum" in the narrator's terms. The factotum seems to have led a stormy life.

According to his own account, however, he had a wife in every tribe; [in fact, if all this little vagabond said of himself were to be believed, he was without morals, without caste, without creed, without country, and even without language]; for he spoke a jargon of mingled French, English, and Osage.Q. How should I construe "be to do", namely "were to be believed" here?
I interpreted the part as "if all this little vagabond said of himself [could be believed], he was without morals,..."(that is, the narrator is unsure whether the man told lies or truths and whether he was actually a scoundrel or not.)

Thank you for reading to this end. Perhaps you would explain.

Question

Usage of be to do
The text below is an excerpt from A Tour on the Praries by W. Irving. This work is an account of his trip to the then Far West, namely the regions west of Missisippi.
I have an unsure point(bracketed between[]).
 
Context:The narrator introduces his co-travellers, among whom is a versatile man, nay, a "factotum" in the narrator's terms. The factotum seems to have led a stormy life.

According to his own account, however, he had a wife in every tribe; [in fact, if all this little vagabond said of himself were to be believed, he was without morals, without caste, without creed, without country, and even without language]; for he spoke a jargon of mingled French, English, and Osage.Q. How should I construe "be to do", namely "were to be believed" here? 
I interpreted the part as "if all this little vagabond said of himself [could be believed], he was without morals,..."(that is, the narrator is unsure whether the man told lies or truths and whether he was actually a scoundrel or not.)

Thank you for reading to this end. Perhaps you would explain.

Answer

Hey Satomiさん, I think you have understood correctly.  If he "were to be believed" basically means "could be believed". He used "were to be" because it is passive...he is not saying "if I believed" or "if you believed" but more general...if anyone believed it, or if it were all true. This makes it less direct...maybe the narrator doesn't want to say that this is his opinion exactly.

well done;)

Phil

Answer

Hi Satomi,

We use "were" to set an assumption which is not true now, or can never be true.

for example,
"If I were you, I will do this"
"What will you do if you were me?"
"If he were a bird, he will do that"

Now, applying that to your sentence, "If all this little vagabond said of himself were to be believed, he was.....", it essentially mean that if we believe all the things being said about him, then he was......

Hope it helps  : )

Answer

I do not see the phrase "be to do" in the excerpt that you have posted.

Answers · 5

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