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)
/biː/
being /ˈbiːɪŋ/
been /biːn/
I /aɪ/
You /juː/
He /hiː/, She /ʃiː/, It /ɪt/
They /ðeɪ/, we /wiː/, you /juː/
am /æm/
are /ɑːʳ/
is /ɪz/
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:
[ is reading is in the Present Progressive Tense]
[ have been publishing is in the Present Progressive Tense]
[ may be traveling is a modal progressive form]
2. The general formula for passive forms is:
Past Participle
[ is spoken is in the Present Simple Passive]
[ Was being built is in the Past Progressive Passive]
[ could have been written is in a modal perfect passive form]
Frequency adverbs appear after the verb to be and not before, as with other verbs.
Example:
[ usually appears after is, always appears before works]
4. Special uses
To express the age, it is translate like “tener”
To express needs, it is translate like “tener”
To express the weather, it is translate like “hacer”:
To express that something exists, it is translate like “hay”:
5. To be + Infinitive
Be + to-infinitive is used to express:
official arrangements:
The Prime Minister is to visit Asia nexth month.
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.
Mr Jones was to speak at the meeting. (it was arranged and he did)
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: