1.3: The Verb To Be
- Page ID
- 349375
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The most important verb in the English language is the verb to be. It can be used alone, or it can be used with other forms of other verbs to change their time (tense) or voice (active to passive). The forms of the verb to be are as follows:
Present: am, is, are
Past: was, were
Future: will be
Present Perfect: have been, has been
Past Perfect: had been
Future Perfect: will have been
All of the above forms tell different time, but they all have exactly the same meaning. The time changes, but the meaning remains the same. Note the following examples:
I am a human.
I was a human yesterday.
I will be a human tomorrow.
I have been a human for a long time.
I had been a human for many years when I moved to America.
I will have been a human for a long time before I die.
The only difference in the above sentences is the time. The fact that I am a human has never changed.
| Person | Subject | Correct Form of "Be" | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular Forms | |||
| 1st person singular | I | am | I am happy. |
| 2nd person singular | You | are | You are smart. |
| 3rd person singular | He / She / It | is | She is tired. |
| Plural Forms | |||
| 1st person plural | We | are | We are friends. |
| 2nd person plural | You (all) | are | You are ready. |
| 3rd person plural | They | are | They are students. |
In the following sentences, there is no action. The verb to be is used to connect the front of the sentences with the back of the sentences. The subject of the sentences and the part of the sentences that follow the verb to be are the same or they refer to the subject.
| Use | Example Sentence | Form of "Be" |
|---|---|---|
| Identity / Name | She is a teacher. | am / is / are |
| Classification / Grouping | A whale is a mammal. | am / is / are |
| Age | I am 20 years old. | am / is / are |
| Place of Origin / Nationality | They are from Mexico. | am / is / are |
| Feelings / Condition | He is tired. | am / is / are |
| Physical State | I am hungry. | am / is / are |
| Description / Trait | It is beautiful. | am / is / are |
| Location | We are at home. | am / is / are |
| Occupation / Role | You are a student. | am / is / are |
| Time | It is 7:30 a.m. | am / is / are |
| Weather | It is sunny today. | is |
| Reaction to Weather | I am cold. | am / is / are |
| There + be (existence) | There is a book on the desk. | is / are |