# be

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/be
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. linking a subject to a description

verb · CEFR A1

to connect a person or thing to a description, name, or job.

For teachers: the primary copula used to link a subject to a predicative adjective, noun phrase, or complement.

- The weather is very cold today, so you should wear a heavy coat.
- The results of the clinical trial were inconclusive, necessitating a second round of testing under more controlled conditions.

Usage: The verb is highly irregular (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) and must agree with the subject.

### 2. location or existence

verb · CEFR A1

to exist or to be in a specific place.

For teachers: to exist in a particular place or state; often used with 'there' as a dummy subject to introduce new information.

- There are three apples on the table in the kitchen.
- There was a profound sense of relief among the staff once the merger was officially called off by the board.

Usage: Often used in the 'there is/are' construction to state that something exists.

### 3. auxiliary for continuous actions

verb · CEFR A1

a helper verb used with another verb ending in '-ing' to show an action is happening now.

For teachers: an auxiliary verb used to form the progressive (continuous) aspect, indicating an ongoing action or state.

- They are playing football in the park at the moment.
- The research team is currently investigating the long-term effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic.

Usage: Followed by the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.

### 4. auxiliary for passive voice

verb · CEFR B1

a helper verb used to show that something is happening to the subject.

For teachers: an auxiliary verb used with a past participle to form the passive voice, where the subject receives the action.

- The window was broken by a ball during the game.
- The ancient manuscript was discovered by a team of archaeologists working in a remote cave system last summer.

Usage: Followed by the past participle of the main verb.

### 5. to take place

verb · CEFR A2

to happen or occur at a specific time or place.

For teachers: to occur or take place; used to describe the scheduling or location of events.

- The party will be at my house next Saturday evening.
- The annual conference is to be in Geneva this year, following the success of last year's event in Singapore.

## Examples

- I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
- The keys are on the kitchen table where you left them this morning.
- To be or not to be is the central question of the play's most famous soliloquy, reflecting the protagonist's deep internal conflict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.