be

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verb strong British English pronunciation: be

/biː/ weak British English pronunciation: be

/bi/

present tense
I	am
you/we/they	are
he/she/it	is
present participle	being
past tense
I/he/she/it	was
you/we/they	were
past participle	been

Be can have many different forms depending on its subject and on its tense:

present tense

I am

he/she/it is

we/you/they are

past tense

I/he/she/it was

we/you/they were

past participle

been

present participle

being

Be can be used in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb in progressive verb tenses or in passive forms (followed by a present participle or a past participle): The train is leaving. ♦ A window was broken.

as a verb (followed by an infinitive with ‘to’): She is to marry Lord Stanhope. ♦ All books are to be returned by Friday. ♦ The party was to be a surprise.

as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement): Dad was ill. ♦ His wife is a doctor. (followed by an adverb or preposition): The children are in bed.

Questions and negatives that are formed without ‘do’: Are you busy? ♦ The book was not expensive.

Be is often used in question tags: You weren’t listening, were you? ♦ It’s cold, isn’t it?

1
[auxiliary verb] used for forming the progressive tenses of verbs, that are used for showing actions that are in progress at a particular point in time
Is everyone listening?
I’m studying English Literature.
We were having breakfast when Terry phoned.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
2
[auxiliary verb] used for forming the passive form of verbs
Her husband was killed in a car accident.
The orchestra will be conducted by David Norton.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
3
[linking verb] used for giving information about someone or something, by giving their name, job, position etc, describing them, or saying where they are
Calvin Schultz is our Marketing Director.
He wants to be an actor when he leaves school.
It was a cold frosty morning.
Baltimore is not far from Washington.
Tom’s from a small town in Canada.
Who’s in charge of the Finance Department?
Nancy is tall and very thin.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
4
[linking verb] used for saying how someone behaves, or for telling them how to behave
Be quiet! I can’t hear what they’re saying.
He’s just being silly again – pay no attention.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
5
[intransitive] formal to exist
a way of life that has long since ceased to be
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
Cultural note: be
The most famous speech in Shakespeare’s Hamlet begins with the words ‘To be or not to be…’, in which Hamlet considers the possibility of killing himself.

phrases

been there, done that
spoken
used to say that you have done something and are no longer interested in it
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
being...
used for giving an explanation of something
Being younger than the others, I always had to wear their old clothes.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
being as
informal
a way of saying ‘because’ that many people do not consider to be correct
Being as you’re so clever, maybe you can tell me the answer?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
be that as it may
mainly spoken
used for saying that even if something is true, it does not affect your opinion
Be that as it may, I still think Mr Livingstone is the best man for the job.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
be to do something
formal
1. 1
  used for telling someone what to do
  You are to stay here until I send for you.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
2. 2
  used for saying what has been arranged
  The ceremony is to take place in the palace grounds.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
3. 3
  used for saying or asking what should be done
  What are we to do?
  You are to be congratulated on your wise decision.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
4. 4
  used in an ‘if’ clause for suggesting a possible aim when you are saying what must happen in order to achieve it
  If we are to compete successfully in world markets, we must invest more money in education and training.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
5. 5
  used about someone or something in the past to say what would happen at a later time
  the boy who was to become king
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
have been to...
used for saying that someone has gone to a place and returned
Have you ever been to Venice?
Where have you been?
I’ve been to London.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
there is/are etc
1. 1
  used for saying that someone or something is in a particular place
  There’s a woman in the other room who wants to talk to you.
  How many people were there at the concert?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
2. 2
  used for saying that someone or something exists or that something happens
  There is a small problem that we need to discuss.
  There have already been four serious accidents on this stretch of road.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be
were someone/something to do something
formal
used in a conditional clause for describing a situation that is not real or that is very unlikely to happen
Were Shakespeare to return today, he would be amazed to find his plays being studied in schools.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of be

Usage note: be

In conversation or informal writing am can be shortened to ’m, is can be shortened to ’s, and are can be shortened to ’re: I’m so glad you came. ♦ Kay’s still at the office. ♦ We’re leaving tomorrow.

These short forms can be followed by not to make negative sentences: I’m not surprised. ♦ She’s not very strong. ♦ You’re not helping.

Negative forms can also be shortened: am not can be shortened to aren’t (but only in questions), is not can be shortened to isn’t, are not can be shortened to aren’t, was not can be shortened to wasn’t, and were not can be shortened to weren’t: I’m next, aren’t I? ♦ Tom isn’t coming. ♦ They weren’t very nice.

This is the British English definition of be. View American English definition of be.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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be

What are red words?

Thesaurus

Related thesaurus entries

phrases

been there, done that

being...

being as

be that as it may

be to do something

have been to...

there is/are etc

were someone/something to do something

showmance

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soapstone

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