Be Am Is Are Was Were Been
Spoken Description
Learn the uses of be with am, are, is, was, were, been in clear examples. Practice affirmative, negative, questions, short answers, and contractions. Understand time and subject agreements.
Guía para aprender las formas y usos del verbo be en inglés: am, is, are, was, were, been. Explicaciones claras con ejemplos, ejercicios rápidos, y reglas para pasado, presente, negaciones y preguntas.
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The verb be is the very foundation of English: it shows identity, description, time, and state. This guide goes through forms, uses, and common patterns so you can spot and practice each one.
Forms
The verb be has different forms for tense and number. Here are the main ones in positive, negative, and question shape.
Present
Use am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they. The negative adds not after the verb.
Ihappy today (am).
I am happy today
Fill in the blank with the correct present form of be (am/is/are).
Past
Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they. The negative adds not after the verb.
Iat the meeting yesterday (was).
I was at the meeting yesterday
Fill in the blank with the correct past form of be (was/were).
Past Participle
Been is the past participle form of be and is used with have for perfect tenses. It shows an action or state that continues or is relevant to now.
She hasto Paris twice (been).
She has been to Paris twice
Complete the sentence with the past participle 'been' after the correct form of have.
Usage
Use be to show identity (who or what something is), description (qualities or states), location (where something is), and time (when something is). It also appears in passive sentences and with expressions.
Identity
Use be to say who someone is or what something is. This links a subject to a name, role, or category.
Annaa teacher (is).
Anna is a teacher
Complete the sentence to show identity (who/what).
Description
Use be to describe qualities, conditions, or feelings. This can refer to permanent traits or temporary states.
The soupdelicious (is).
The soup is delicious
Complete the sentence to describe a quality or feeling.
Location
Use be to show where someone or something is. This often uses at, in, or on after the verb.
Weat the station now (are).
We are at the station now
Complete the sentence to show location.
Time
Use be to tell time, date, or season when an event happens. This helps set the scene or schedule.
Itseven o'clock (is).
It is seven o'clock
Complete the sentence to tell time or date.
Passive Voice
Be is combined with a past participle to form the passive voice, which focuses on the action or receiver rather than the doer. The tense of be matches the time of the action.
Expressions
There are fixed expressions and idioms with be that learners should recognize. They often add meaning or nuance.
Summary
Remember the key forms: am/is/are for present, was/were for past, and been for perfect. Use be to link identity, description, location, and time, and learn common expressions. Practice with short sentences aloud to feel the pattern.
Summary
Remember the key forms: am/is/are for present, was/were for past, and been for perfect. Use be to link identity, description, location, and time, and learn common expressions. Practice with short sentences aloud to feel the pattern.
Notes
Additional tips on contractions, emphasis, and common learner errors ensure natural use. Pay attention to small forms like 's and n't in speech and writing.
Contractions
Use contractions in spoken and informal English: I'm, he's, they're, wasn't, weren't. They make speech speed up and sound natural. Practice both saying and hearing them.
Emphasis
To emphasize the verb be, use the stressed form in speech or add words like really or definitely. This can highlight identity or condition when it matters.
Common Errors
Learners sometimes mix up was and were, forget am with I, or leave out be in questions. Double-check each sentence for the correct form, especially in negatives and questions.
Summary
Use contractions for natural speech, stress be to emphasize, and watch common errors in tense and agreement. Small attention to these details improves clarity and confidence.
🌟 Summary
The verb be links identity, description, location, and time. Use am/is/are for present, was/were for past, and been with have for perfect. Practice short sentences paying attention to contractions and common learner errors.
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