How do you use "The Verb 'be'" in a sentence?

I am a student.' / 'I'm a student. She is tired.' / 'She's tired. They were at home yesterday. Is he coming?' / 'Are you ready?

The Verb 'be'

Q: What does "The Verb 'be'" mean?

The most irregular and important verb in English 'Be' has unique forms: am/is/are (present), was/were (past). Used as a main verb (I am happy), auxiliary for continuous (I am working), and auxiliary for passive (It was made). Contractions: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: The most irregular and important verb in English

英语中最不规则且最重要的动词

El verbo más irregular e importante del inglés

英語で最も不規則で重要な動詞

영어에서 가장 불규칙하고 중요한 동사

'Be' has unique forms: am/is/are (present), was/were (past). Used as a main verb (I am happy), auxiliary for continuous (I am working), and auxiliary for passive (It was made). Contractions: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're.

'Be'有独特的形式：am/is/are（现在时），was/were（过去时）。用作主要动词（I am happy）、进行时的助动词（I am working）和被动语态的助动词（It was made）。缩写形式：I'm、you're、he's、she's、it's、we're、they're。

'Be' tiene formas únicas: am/is/are (presente), was/were (pasado). Se usa como verbo principal (I am happy), auxiliar para continuo (I am working) y auxiliar para pasiva (It was made). Contracciones: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're.

「Be」には独自の形があります：am/is/are（現在）、was/were（過去）。主動詞として（I am happy）、進行形の助動詞として（I am working）、受動態の助動詞として（It was made）使われます。短縮形：I'm、you're、he's、she's、it's、we're、they're。

'Be'는 고유한 형태를 가집니다: am/is/are (현재), was/were (과거). 본동사(I am happy), 진행형 조동사(I am working), 수동태 조동사(It was made)로 사용됩니다. 축약형: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're.

Examples

I am a student.' / 'I'm a student.
我是一名学生。
Soy estudiante.
私は学生です。
나는 학생입니다.
She is tired.' / 'She's tired.
她很累。
Ella está cansada.
彼女は疲れています。
그녀는 피곤합니다.
They were at home yesterday.
他们昨天在家。
Ellos estaban en casa ayer.
彼らは昨日家にいました。
그들은 어제 집에 있었습니다.
Is he coming?' / 'Are you ready?
他要来吗？' / '你准备好了吗？
¿Viene él?' / '¿Estás listo?
彼は来ますか？' / '準備はできましたか？
그는 올 건가요?' / '준비됐나요?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

I am happy.
我很开心。
Soy feliz.
私は幸せです。
나는 행복합니다.
She is a doctor.
她是一名医生。
Ella es doctora.
彼女は医者です。
그녀는 의사입니다.
We are from Spain.
我们来自西班牙。
Somos de España.
私たちはスペイン出身です。
우리는 스페인 출신입니다.
They were very kind.
他们非常友善。
Ellos fueron muy amables.
彼らはとても親切でした。
그들은 매우 친절했습니다.
We were at home.
We were at home. 我们当时在家。
Estábamos en casa.
私たちは家にいました。
우리는 집에 있었습니다.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure. 我不确定。
No estoy seguro/a.
よくわかりません。
잘 모르겠습니다.

✗ Don't Say

I is happy. (am with I)
I is开心。（I用am）
I is happy. (con I se usa am)
I is happy。（Iにはamを使う）
I is 행복하다. (I에는 am을 사용)
She are a doctor. (is with she)
She are医生。（she用is）
She are a doctor. (con she se usa is)
She are a doctor。（sheにはisを使う）
She are 의사다. (she에는 is를 사용)
We was at home. (were with we)
We was在家。（we用were）
We was at home. (con we se usa were)
We was at home。（weにはwereを使う）
We was 집에 있었다. (we에는 were를 사용)
I amn't sure. (use 'I'm not')
我amn't确定。（用'I'm not'）
I amn't sure. (se usa 'I'm not')
I amn't sure。（'I'm not'を使う）
I amn't 확실하지 않다. ('I'm not'을 사용)

Origin & History

Core English verb from Old English

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal