The Verb Be

Grammar Index : 2


The Verb Be is a very important but peculiar verb in English.

The Verb Be can be used as a main verb as well as an “auxiliary verb.

Examples:

• I am in London.

In this sentence, the verb “am” has been used as a main verb.

• I am a qualified candidate.

In this sentence, the verb 'am' has been used as an auxiliart verb.Whereas the main verb is “qualify”.

It has other forms when it is used as an indicator of tense of the verb.

They are:

Is, was, am, are and were.

Examples:

• He is a teacher. (main verb)

• He was sent out of the meeting hall for his ill-behaviors. ( was” is auxiliary verb and the main verb is “send”)

The Verb Be is a very important but peculiar verb in English. It takes the following forms in the Principal forms.

Present tense …………………….Past tense………………..Past Participle

Be................................................................Been

Am.......................................was.................

Is.......................................was.................

Are......................................were................

So, “be”, “been”, “is”, “was”, “are” and “were” are the only different forms of the verb “be”.

Examples:

Many forms of the Verb-Be have beed used here. i. Be careful.

ii. Be kind to others.

iii. I am the secretary of the association.

iv. He is a kind man.

v. They are social workers.

vi. She was a good companion.

vii. The books were available.

viii. She has been the secretary for two years.

ix. You are not a member of this organization.

You can form your own sentences using the various forms of the Verb-Be.

Note:

The Verb Be can be used as a main verb and as an “auxiliary verb.

Main verb:

Examples:

i. The child is very cute.

ii. It was six o’clock.

iii. There were many people.

iv. They are the people whom we are looking after.

v. I am a student of that college.

vi. Be careful.

Auxiliary verb:

Examples:

The Verb Be is used as auxiliary verb as follows.

i. I am working here.

ii. She is doing her work quietly.

iii. The train was running late.

iv. The women were working in the field.

Note:

Unlike the other verbs, the verb “be” can not be split in the interrogative and negatve forms of sentences. We use it as follows.



Negative:

Examples:

i. I am not your enemy.

ii. He was not responsible for the accident.

iii. The people were not excited.

Interrogative:

Examples:

i. Where is the building?

ii. How was the film?

iii. Were all the materials available?

Note:

The verbs “do” and “have” can be used as main verb and auxiliary verb.

Main verb:

Examples:

i. I do a lot of exercises.

ii. He does his work rather carelessly.

iii. I have no difficulty.

iv. They had a solution to this problem.

v. She has no compassion for others.

Auxiliary verb:

Examples:

i. I do not know anybody here.

ii. She does not love him.

iii. I have seen this film.

iv. A plan has been prepared.

Examples:

i. I do not have an answer to your question. (auxiliary verb)

ii. The committee has submitted the report. (auxiliary verb)

iii. They are investigating into the matter. (auxiliary verb)

iv. The matter is urgent. ( main verb)

v. He has done a lot of research. (auxiliary verb)

vi. All the candidates were present. ( main verb)

vii. She does all the work herself. ( main verb)

viii. The boy did not bring his book. (auxiliary verb)

ix. I had applied for the job. (auxiliary verb)

x. Our manager has been ill for quite some time. (auxiliary verb)

Grammar Index : 2

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