I am stupid. I utter the words, 'You are stupid' to myself, therefore, 'I conclude 'I am stupid' Or I spent too much money last week. I want to be self-confident. I want to speak up more at works meetings. I am a worrier I picture imaginary things happening and tell myself frightening stories about the future When we translate the 'to be' statements into E-Prime, then they appear to me less absolute, objective and less controversial.
Some statement appear complete nonsense.
Where they would tend to lead us to hasty conclusions, they become more factual. I was walking down the road yesterday when I saw Alice. This use of the verb 'to be' in the progressive senses doesn't appear to involve predication and identity, and does not appear easy to translate without losing important meanings in the language. The work has been completed. The victims were examined at the hospital and sent home.