Re: Is "is" a verb?

From: Rex F. May (rex.may_at_comcast.net)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 12:55:16 GMT

in article 40CFB3D1.5EA7@worldnet.att.net, Peter T. Daniels at
grammatim@worldnet.att.net wrote on 6/15/04 8:43 PM:

>>>
>>> I can imagine a context where it's correct.
>>>
>>> (to guy who'd been sick and is resting up)
>>>
>>> "What are you doing these days?"
>>>
>>> "Not much. I'm being well."
>>>
>>> What context did you have in mind?
>>
>> THANK you! Your example is even better than anything I could come up
>> with. I used the example of people putting on a play and comparing
>> how well they're each "being" their part (although, the verb most
>> likely to be used in such a place would probably be "act"). Any
>> context works for me, as long as we can prove to these ignorant morons
>> that there's nothing wrong with "being well".
>
> As Rex subsequently pointed out, his example was irrelevant to the
> discussion, since this is the adjective meaning 'healthy' and not the
> adverb meaning 'in a good manner'.

Quite right. This usage (adverb) is not good English, and (remember, I was
under the impression that this was a puzzle to be solved) can only be -made-
good English by some clever trick of very unusual context. Since 'well' is
ambiguous and confusing, sub 'badly'. "I badly be." Uh-uh. No way. Only
at the QuickeeMart.