Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to All:
Looking at "We thought it a fine idea," I thought
that we can omit "to be" when we understand the
sentence without it?" ;-)
Correct.
Another example, a jocular saying in English: Better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and prove it.
BTW, this author's name is spelled "Leacock"... "lea" as in a bit of potential grazing land or farm land and "cock" as in rooster. :-)
--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)