To show the status or characteristics of something or someone.
We will explain its different forms and uses. Take into account that The Infinitive form of the verb is To Be.
Conjugated in Simple Past, "Was - Were".
Conjugated in Participle, "Been".
In the Indicative form, this verb has 3 forms...
Am – Is – Are.
Each form belongs to different Pronouns.
That is to say that, when the Personal Pronoun "I" appears in a sentence, we must use "Am".
When the Pronoun is
He - She - It
we use "Is".
When the Pronoun is
You - We - They
we use "Are".
The short form (or contraction) is often used in conversations or informal texts.
Examples
I am interested.
She is tall and pretty.
They are students.
Emily is my sister.
("Emily" equals the personal pronoun "She", so we write "Emily Is").Tom and Emily are friends.
("Tom and Emily" equals the personal pronoun "They", so we write "Tom and Emily Are").I'm 23 years old.
Manny is 3 years old.
To negate the verb "To Be" we do not need an auxiliary.
That is to say that, to write the negative form of the verb "To Be", we add "Not" after the verb (or the short form or contraction).
Examples
My mum isn't a good singer.
They aren't my classmates.
He is not guilty.
The baby isn't crying.
I'm not 25 years old.
In the Interrogative form, the verb "To Be" is written before the Pronoun or Subject of the sentence and it can't be contracted.
Examples
Is he tired?
Are you at home?
Is Tom your boyfriend?
Are they interesting?
Am I your best friend?
Conjugated in the Simple Past, the form of the verb changes.
Examples
She was at school yesterday.
They were friends.
She was engaged.
Richard was ill.
My parents were angry.
In the Simple Past, the Negative form of the verb "To Be" can be contracted.
Examples
They weren't speaking.
Kate was not pregnant.
I wasn't in Paris last year.
You weren't driving too fast.
Like in the Present, the verb "To Be" is written before the Pronoun or Subject of the sentence.
Examples
Was he smoking?
Were you married?
Was she watching tv?
Was it raining?
T
B