The verb be is the most fundamental and irregular verb in English. It expresses existence, identity, and states of being. The forms am, is, are, was, were, and been are used in different grammatical contexts and tenses.
Forms of Be
- am: used with I (present simple)
- is: used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) (present simple)
- are: used with you, we, they (present simple), and plural subjects
- was: used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it) in the past simple
- were: used with plural subjects (you, we, they) and singular you in the past simple
- been: past participle form used in perfect tenses
- being: present participle/gerund form used in continuous tenses and as a noun
Which form of 'be' is used with plural subjects and the singular subject 'you' in the past simple tense?
were
'Were' is used with plural subjects and 'you' in the past simple tense. 'Was' is used with singular subjects like I, he, she, and it.
Usage
. Stating Identity or Role
- am / is / are
- Example: I am a teacher. She is a doctor. They are students.
. Describing States or Conditions
- am / is / are / was / were
- Example: He is tired. They were happy.
. Passive Voice Formation
- Use be + past participle
- Example: The book is written by her. The letters were sent yesterday.
. Forming Continuous Tenses
- Use am / is / are / was / were + being (rarely used in progressive form)
- Example: He is being silly. (present continuous passive or expressing temporary behavior)
How are continuous tenses formed using the verb 'be'?
am / is / are / was / were + present participle (-ing)
Continuous tenses are formed with the correct form of 'be' (am, is, are, was, were) followed by the present participle (-ing form).
. Perfect Tenses
- Use have / has / had + been
- Example: I have been to Paris. She had been waiting.
Common Examples
| Subject | Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect | Past Participle Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am happy. | I was happy. | I have been happy. | being happy / been happy |
| You | You are late. | You were late. | You have been late. | being late / been late |
| He/She/It | She is here. | She was here. | She has been here. | being here / been here |
| We | We are ready. | We were ready. | We have been ready. | being ready / been ready |
| They | They are busy. | They were busy. | They have been busy. | being busy / been busy |
Summary
The verb be appears in many forms: am, is, are, was, were for simple tenses; been for perfect tenses; and being for continuous forms or as a gerund. It expresses identity, condition, existence, and forms passive and continuous structures.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
