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The Verb "Be" |
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The verb be takes on different forms in the present and past.
I
He
She
It
You
They
we |
Present
am
is
is
is
are
are
are |
Contraction
'm
's
's
's
're
're
're |
Past
was
was
was
was
were
were
were |
The verb be indicates existence, temporary condition or permanent status.
It is really hot today.
Grady's not here right now.
Greg and Tim
are engineers.
Trudy was sick yesterday.
Hawaii
is in the Pacific Ocean.
The base form is
be, the past participle is
been, and the -ing form is
being.
I'll be back tomorrow.
He
has been a doctor since 1998.
She
is being nice today.
The verb
be is also used in progressive tenses, passives and prepositional collocations :
Progressive tenses:
He
is writing a letter to his brother.
Jeff
was cleaning the house this morning.
The Holleys
have been living there since April.
Passive voice:
The people
were surprised by the news.
Craig
was stopped by the policeman.
Prepositional collocations:
Tracy
is fond of chocolates.
Cassie
is not
afraid of snakes.
I'm interested in making money.
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