The Verb To Be: Forms,
Examples and Grammar Exercises
The verb "to be" is one of the most common verbs in the English
language. It has many different forms.
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
The forms of
the verb "to be"
When? |
Who? |
Form |
Example |
Base form |
|
be |
It can be simple. |
Simple Present |
I |
am |
I am here. |
You |
are |
You are here. |
He/She/It |
is |
She is here. |
We |
are |
We are here. |
They |
are |
They are here. |
Simple Past |
I |
was |
I was here. |
You |
were |
You were here. |
He/She/It |
was |
She was here. |
We |
were |
We were here. |
They |
were |
They were here. |
Simple Future |
I |
will be |
I will be
here. |
You |
will be |
You will be
here. |
He/She/It |
will be |
She will be
here. |
We |
will be |
We will be
here. |
They |
will be |
They will be
here. |
Progressive form |
|
being |
He is being
unusual. |
Perfect from |
|
been |
It has been fun. |
The verb "to be" also has many different meanings.
The following are the most important ones.
The meanings
of the verb "to be"
1.
Exists.
There
is a rabbit inside.
There
is
nothing in the fridge.
There
is a
problem...
There
is a
difference.
2.
Happens.
The party
is tonight.
The meeting
is
down the hall.
Come, it
is
over there.
3.
Located.
She
is at school.
She
is home.
The food
is
on the table.
4.
Shows identity.
She
is Alexis and this
is Bob.
He
is a
singer.
He
is not a singer.

5.
Shows a quality.
She
is beautiful.
It
is
stinky.
This
is
dangerous.
The verb
"to be" as an auxiliary verb
(helping verb)
Auxiliary verbs are verbs that are used together with the main
verb of the sentence to express the action or state.
Main
verb + auxiliary verb = complete idea
The verb "to be" can be used as an auxiliary
verb to express
ongoing
(continuing) actions.
For example:
Anna
is eating a
sandwich.
"Eating" = the main verb.
"Is" = an auxiliary (helping) verb.
"is eating" (a complete idea) = the eating is IN PROGRESS.
More examples:
Kayla
is walking
home with her friends.
Justin and Ethan
are
watching
a movie.
I
am trying to
get some sleep.
The verb "to be"
in passive sentences
The verb "to be" is used together with the third form of the verb (V3)
in passive sentences.
For example:
ACTIVE: I eat an apple.
PASSIVE: The apple
is
eaten.
"Eaten" = the main verb (in the third form – V3).
"Is" = an auxiliary (helping) verb.
"is eaten" (a complete idea) = the subject of the sentence (the apple)
is affected by the action.
More examples:
People buy cars. --> Cars
are
bought.
Someone turned on the light. --> The light
was turned on.
He will clean the house. --> The house
will be cleaned.
Progressive
Forms of the verb "to
be"
The
progressive form of the verb "to be" is "being."
This means the action is
ongoing
(continuing).
Examples:
The little boy is
being
naughty.
She was
being
rude, but then she apologized.
They are
being
tricked.
Perfect
Forms of the verb "to be"
The
perfect form of the verb "to be" is "been."
This means the action is
complete
(finished).
Examples:
The little boy has
been
naughty.
She has
been
rude, but now she apologizes.
They have
been
tricked.
Grammar Exercises
Exercise
01
Exercise
02
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