INGLES 8 y 9

 

 

The verb to be is a key verb in English, playing a major part in many types of constructions. It has many usages and meanings, both as a main verb and as an auxiliary verb. It also acts differently in negative sentences and questions.

FORMS

The verb to be has the most forms in English (8 forms)

 

BASED FORM	be /biː/
PRESENT PARTICIPLE	being /ˈbiːɪŋ/
PAST PARTICIPLE	been /biːn/
PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE	I /aɪ/ You /juː/ He /hiː/, She /ʃiː/, It /ɪt/ They /ðeɪ/, we /wiː/, you /juː/	am /æm/ are /ɑːʳ/ is /ɪz/ are /ɑːʳ/
PAST SIMPLE TENSE	I, He, She, It We, You, They	was /wɒz/ were /w3ːʳ/

 

MEANING

As a main verb in a sentence, to be is a stative verb serving as a copula (a verb linking the subject with its complement). As every sentence in English must have a verb, to be is used in many cases where there is no action described in the sentence.

 

I am Edwin. He is a teacher. We are from Spain.

[Existence, identity]

She was with his sister in Paris while we were at home.
[Location]

I will be 30 in July.
[Age]

This dress is size 12. Her last apartment was very small.
[Size]

The sun is yellow, and so is my favorite color.
[Color]

We are from Italy.
[Origin]

How are you today ? I ’m fine, thanks.
[Mood]

My new teacher is very nice.
The results of our research are very promising.
[copula]

• To be is also part of many commonly used verb phrases, such as the following:
to be afraid, to be aware of, to be happy, to be derived from

 

USES

As an auxiliary verb, to be is used to create progressive verb forms and passive constructions.

1. The general formula for progressive forms is:

Auxiliary verb +	Main verb
Be +	Present Participle (ing)

Examples:

• Dayana is reading her new book.

[ is reading is in the Present Progressive Tense]

• Her Parents have been working in book publishing for years.

[ have been publishing is in the Present Progressive Tense]

• Micke may be traveling in China next month.

[ may be traveling is a modal progressive form]

 

2. The general formula for passive forms is:

Auxiliary verb +	Main verb
Be +	Past Participle

Examples:

• English is spoken around the world.

[ is spoken is in the Present Simple Passive]

• While the new airport was being built, my parents decided to move.

[ Was being built is in the Past Progressive Passive]

• This story could have been written differently.

[ could have been written is in a modal perfect passive form]

3. With time expressions

Frequency adverbs appear after the verb to be and not before, as with other verbs.

Example:

• She is usually on time and always works very well.

[ usually appears after is, always appears before works]

 

4. Special uses

To express the age, it is translate like “tener”

• I'm 21.
• Mary is 18 years old.
  

To express needs, it is translate like “tener”

• She is thirsty
• Are you hungry?

To express the weather, it is translate like “hacer”:

• It's windy.
• It is very cold.

To express that something exists, it is translate like “hay”:

• There is one table in the classroom. (singular)
  
• There are three pencils on the table. (plural)
  

5. To be + Infinitive

Be + to-infinitive is used to express:

• official arrangements:

The Prime Minister is to visit Asia nexth month.

• official orders:

At the end of the course, all students are to take a written exam.

• things that should be done:

What am I to do?

• a possible aim when saying what should be done to reach it:

If you are to work here for more than three months, you must have a residence permit.

• prohibition (only in the negative):

You are not to do that again.

• Be + to-infinitive can also be used in the past:

Mr Jones was to speak at the meeting. (it was arranged and he did)

• But was/were + to + perfect infinitive means that the arranged event did not actually happen:

Mr Thomas was to have spoken at the meeting, but he had to cancel because of his illness.

 

QUESTION: Choose the right answers to  complete the next sentences with the verb to be: They _______ intelligent. The cat ______ hungry. It _______ a sunny day.