to be

bi:

bee

Definition & Meaning of "be"in English

to be

VERB

used when naming, or giving description or information about people, things, or situations

Linking Verb: to be [adj] | to be sb/sth | to be to do sth

Grammatical Information

Composition

Simple

State verb

Irregular

Present tense

3rd person singular

Present participle

being

Past simple

was

Past participle

been

Examples

Today is her birthday.

1.1

used for saying what something is made of

Linking Verb: to be particular constituent parts or material

Examples

The cake is three layers of deliciousness.

1.2

to express equality between things

Linking Verb: to be sth

Examples

Two plus two is four.

1.3

used for talking about the cost of something

cost

come to

Linking Verb: to be a particular price

Examples

'What's the price of the coffee machine?' 'It's $80.'

1.4

used for indicating who owns something or who it is meant for

Linking Verb: to be for sb | to be someone's

Examples

The car in the driveway is Mary's; the other one is mine.

1.5

used for indicating how great the importance of something is to someone

Linking Verb: to be sth | to be [adj]

Examples

Family was everything to me.

to have an existence

Linking Verb: to be sb/sth

Examples

Is there a solution to this complex problem?

2.1

to occupy a place

lie

Intransitive: to be somewhere

Examples

Once upon a time, there was a little cottage in the woods.

2.2

to have a presence

Intransitive: to be somewhere

Examples

Is there a doctor in the house?

to happen or take place

Intransitive: to be somewhere | to be point in time

Examples

The graduation ceremony will be in the auditorium.

used for talking about time

Linking Verb: to be a specific time | to be [adj]

Examples

It's five minutes past nine.

used for talking about the weather

Linking Verb: to be [adj]

Examples

It is sunny and warm at the beach today.

used in the perfect tenses to mean to go or visit

Intransitive: to be somewhere

Examples

Have you ever been to Paris?

6.1

used in the perfect tenses to mean to come or visit

Dialect

British

Intransitive

Examples

The plumber has been to repair the leaky faucet.

used to express what someone has said

Examples

She was all, "I can't believe you didn't tell me about the party!"

(auxiliary) used with the present participle form of a verb in forming progressive tenses

Examples

She is working on a new project.

8.1

(auxiliary) used with the past participle form of a verb when forming the passive voice

Examples

The book was read by thousands of people.

Nearby Words

Definition & Meaning of "be"in English

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